assignment
Essay 1
Sample Essay
Dr. Robin Nealy
English 1302
13 July 2021
Final Drama Essay
Family can be described as a group of people who love and care for one another no
matter the circumstances. In the play Fences, by August Wilson, the strength of a family is tested
to its breaking point. When Troy, the father figure of the family, cheats on his loving wife Rose,
a situation occurs that brings up the past scars in Troy’s life. Throughout the story, many new
characters and feelings are introduced that show the man Troy is and why. Many themes are
portrayed through a number of literary devices within the play. Specifically, the play Fences uses
character development, flashbacks, and juxtaposition to highlight the importance of family as a
major theme.
Character development is a prominent literary device used throughout the play to
highlight the importance of family. The development of Troy highlights the importance of family
in the plot. Troy continuously denies having an affair with Alberta in the beginning of the play,
no matter who he was lying to. Troy unintentionally admitted to the affair to his close friend,
Bono. Bono stated, “I see you be walking up around Alberta’s house” (Wilson 1234). Even
though the underlying question was directly understood by Troy, Troy lied about having any
relationship with Alberta. Farther into the conversation, Bono asks Troy a simple question about
Alberta. The conversation became open in a way that Bono now knew, solidly, that Troy had an
affair with Alberta. This conversation is crucial to the character development of Troy. Troy no
longer outwardly expresses a deep need to hide the affair. Troy let Bono know that he and
Essay 2
Alberta had sexual intercourse even though he did not say it directly. Troy was aware that his
affair was becoming less of a secret as he continued the conversation with Bono. The affair
became more casual in his eyes after this conversation. This shows that Troy, at first, did not see
the emotional damage he was causing to his family. He was prideful of his relationship with
Alberta. This perspective changes later in the play. Towards the climax of the story, Troy has to
tell his wife about Alberta and the baby he had with her. His wife expressed how upset she was
with Troy, “Been married eighteen years and I got to live to see the day you tell me you been
seeing another woman and done fathered a child by her” (Wilson 1265). This statement triggers
the love Troy has for his family, as he realizes the depth of his mistake. He began to understand
that his wife has done nothing to deserve the pain he has caused her. He also realizes that the
pain is deeper than he originally imagined. His character turns from someone who is prideful
about his affair, to someone who is truly sorry for his wrongdoing. This character development
shows that even a character who seemed neurotic in the beginning can think like an empathetic
person because of the power of family. The theme of family importance is highlighted through
the character development of Troy.
The theme of family importance is demonstrated through flashbacks of Troy’s childhood.
These flashbacks are triggered when Cory, Troy’s son, expressed his desire to play college ball.
This idea was automatically shot down by Troy. When Troy was in high school, he wanted to
play college ball as well. Despite his outstanding talent as a high school athlete, Troy was
ignored by Major League Baseball because of his race ("Explanation of: 'Fences' by August
Wilson” 1). Racial prejudices prevented Troy's dream from coming true. A generation later, his
son has the same dream, except it is slightly more in reach. One reason Troy was triggered by
Cory’s dream was that he could not achieve the same one when he had the chance. Although the
Essay 3
scene comes out as hostile and close-minded, Troy had a caring reason for snapping at Cory.
Racial prejudices caused Troy a lot of pain and trauma while he was growing up. Behind the
tough exterior, Troy loves Cory and does not want him to go through the same suffering he did
as a teenager. This reveals that family, to Troy, is important enough to fight for. Troy fought for
Cory to not pursue his dream out of love, not pure spite. It is arguable that since the times have
changed, Troy has no reason to doubt his son to such a great extent. The historical context of the
play tells the audience that laws against segregation had been enacted between the time Troy was
a teenager and when his son became a teenager. These laws make an argument that Cory, unlike
Troy, can play ball in college with little obstacles. This is not true, though. Although the laws
made it technically illegal to discriminate, “laws do not proscribe general notions of racial
prejudice by private individuals in most circumstances” (“Racial Discrimination” 1). This
implies that although laws are in place to protect Cory, when there is no one enforcing them, it is
almost as though they are non-existent. Using this flashback to further enforce the togetherness
of their family, Troy’s wife told Cory, “Your daddy wanted you to be everything he wasn’t”
(Wilson 1278). Rose stated this because she wanted Cory to understand Troy didn’t want to take
this opportunity away from Cory, he wanted to make sure his future would be safe no matter the
circumstances. Though they had different ways of expressing their love, both Troy and his wife
want the best for their son. The flashback of Troy wanting to play ball in college made the
theme, family is important, more accessible to the audience.
Lastly, Wilson uses juxtaposition to emphasize the theme of family importance in the
play. From a previous marriage Troy had a son named Lyons. Lyons was raised by his mother
because Troy was in jail for his upbringing. It is apparent in the story that Lyons isn’t fond of his
father. Towards the end of the story, the wedlock child between Troy and Alberta was born. The
Essay 4
baby, Raynell, is juxtaposed with Lyons. This juxtaposition allows the audience to see two
different outcomes of father-son relationships in a family. Troy wasn’t present for Lyons and
now has the option of being present in his newborn’s life. Troy’s wife takes the baby away from
him and explains she will raise him. Rose projected her sorrow towards Troy’s sins, but she
knew in her heart she couldn’t blame her for Troy’s mistake. She knows the hurt of a child
without a mother, and would never want that life for Troy’s daughter (Wilson 1270). Rose
knows the importance and strength of family. She continuously goes out of her way throughout
the play to show that. She is a large factor in portraying family importance as a theme in the
play. The decision for Rose to raise Raynell, juxtaposed to the life of Lyons, shows that the love
that holds a family together can help the lives of innocent children. It shows that a mother’s love
is strong enough to hold a family together. A new blended family is created. Blended families
“can be challenging and rewarding” (“Families” 1). Although this does not promise a perfect
childhood for Raynell, he will have a better chance of getting the love and nourishment every
baby deserves (Jekielek 1). Overall, the theme that family is important is emphasized throughout
the play through the juxtaposition of Lyons and Raynell.
Fences expresses family is important through the many hardships and struggles the
family in the play had to endure. The literary devices of character development, flashbacks, and
juxtaposition show what the family has learned. Literature is a powerful way to express many
hidden themes through various stories. Stay focused on what a good job Wilson does using the
techniques to further the theme of family.
Essay 5
Works Cited
"Explanation of: 'Fences' by August Wilson." LitFinder Contemporary Collection, Gale, 2010.
Gale Literature: LitFinder,link.gale.com/apps/doc/LTF4000000577CE/LITF?u=
j079906&sid=bookmark-LITF&xid=43774283. Accessed 6 Aug. 2021.
"Families." Gale In Context Online Collection, Gale, 2021. Gale In Context: High School,
link.gale.com/apps/doc/XKJTGA058415608/SUIC?u=j079906&sid=bookmark-
SUIC&xi=cf628b40. Accessed 6 Aug. 2021.
Jekielek, Susan M. "Parental Conflict, Marital Disruption and Children's Emotional Well-being."
Social Forces, vol. 76, no. 3, 1998, pp. 905-936. eLibrary,
https://go.openathens.net/redirector/wcjc.edu?url=https://explore.proquest.com/elibrary/
ocument/229914049?accountid=7145. Accessed 8 Aug. 2021.
"Racial Discrimination." Gale Encyclopedia of Everyday Law, edited by Donna Batten, 3rd ed.,
vol. 1: American with Disabilities Act to First Amendment Law, Gale, 2013, pp. 203-
210.Gale In Context: High School,link.gale.com/apps/doc/CX2760300049/SUIC?u=
j079906&sid=bookmark-SUIC&xid=d530989. Accessed 8 Aug. 2021.
Wilson, August, and Lloyd Richards. Fences. Penguin Publishing Group, 2019.
Essay 6