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Fences August Wilson Analysis

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Why do we build fences? Why do we barricade ourselves? Why do we put up walls? Is it because we want to isolate ourselves from the world? Is it because we want to mark our property, perhaps to shut people out? Or is it because we so desperately want to protect what we possess from exterior forces? What exactly do fences serve a purpose? In a literal sense, a fence is a barrier enclosing an area of ground to mark a boundary control access or prevent escape (www.merriam-webster.com). However, for August Wilson, fences aren’t just a bunch of wood constructed together to form a railing; to him, it is clear that there are far more profound and hidden propositions regarding the subject matter. Notice that the title is in its plural form, this goes …show more content…
Rose had long been waiting for what was owed to her. As hard as she tried, all that was left to her were pieces of what was supposedly whole. Her fence wasn’t able to hold the family together, perhaps it was because the people inside the fence kept on climbing to the other side of the boundary or maybe the fence wasn’t completely done at all. However, everything she did is a definite proof that Rose’s character exemplifies all others, yes, that includes Troy Maxson.
So, why do we build fences? We put up walls in hopes of constructing oneness with those who we choose to be with, a specified interconnection doesn’t necessarily mean isolation. A division may it imply but there’s one angle we often turn a blind eye on. As the great Socrates himself once said, “Sometimes you put walls up not to keep people out, but to see who cares enough to break them down.” That alone changes not only the perception towards the whole play, but it also guides us closer to much sensible insights we’ve never before

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