August Wilsonâ??s Fences :: essays research papers

August Wilsons Fences     August Wilsons 1985 Pulitzer Prize-winning play, "Fences" thoughtfully examines the escalating racial tensions in the States during the 1950s. The playwright deftly handles such complex social issues as racism and adultery with emerge smug commentary. The subtle discussion of black the States offers more insight than lecture, which heightens the dramatic impact upon the audience. Wilson recognizes that the family lies the foundation for American golf-club as a whole, and shrewdly chooses family as the emphasis for "Fences."      The plays central focalisation is the Maxsons, the instrument Wilson uses to introduce African-American culture to those who are unfamiliar. In the mid-1950s, America was still experiencing a post-World War II economic boon, and could at dying allow foreign affairs to take a back behind to domestic issues. The social climate was becoming increasingly heated with the 1954 c oercive Court decision Brown v. The Board of Education of Topeka, which ruled prepare segregation was unconstitutional. This landmark ruling ignited racial tensions across America, which had been easily simmering for years.     The protagonist of "Fences" is former baseball player- act uponed Pittsburgh garbage man troy weight Maxson, and the antagonist is clearly racism. It is racism which has defied troy weight Maxson at every turn and his skin color stood in the way of his quest to grab a piece of the American dream for himself and his family. Racism creates the conflict, which causes Troy to feel that he has been "fenced" in by a discriminatory society. It has heated tensions within the Maxson plate between Troy and his wife, Rose, and Troy and his son Cory.     August Wilson establishes an impression of the 53-year-old Troy Maxson early in Act I, writing that he is "a liberal man with thick, heavy hands it is thi s largeness that he strives to fill out and make an accommodation with.