'Fences' by August Wilson

Paper Summary:

This paper takes a look at August Wilson's play, 'Fences'. The paper focuses primarily on the character Troy Maxson and his decision to live in a world of fantasy instead of reality.

From the Paper:

"This shows that Troy's problems are based in his character and not clearly linked to whether or not he accepts religion. Shannon also uses the character of Gabriel to make her point. She states that Gabriel represents God reaching out to Troy because of his claims that he is an angel. However, I find this meaning to be questionable. Most importantly, it is clear that Gabriel is not really an angel despite his claims. Therefore, if Troy did accept Gabriel's statements it would seem unreasonable. As it is, refusing to accept that your brother really is an angel seems like a logical choice. I see Gabriel as serving two purposes. Firstly, he shows that Troy can see reality and is not accepting of all fantasy. This emphasizes that Troy is sane and understands the difference between what is real and what is not. However, he chooses to see fantasies when it is related to him. This shows that Troy's decision to live in a fantasy world is how he chooses to cope with the world. "

Sample of Sources Used:

• Shannon, S. G. "The Good Christian's Come and Gone: The Shifting Role of Christianity in August Wilson Plays." Contemporary Literary Criticism 118 (1999): 382-384.
• Usekes, C. "'We's the Leftovers': Whiteness as Economic Power and Exploitation in August Wilson's Twentieth-Century Cycle of Plays." African American Review, 37.1 (Spring 2003): 115-125.
• Walton, J. E. "Death of a Salesman's Willy Loman and Fences's Troy Maxson:
• Pursuers of the Elusive American Dream." CLA Journal 47.1 (Sep 2003): 55-65.

More papers on 'Fences' by August Wilson:

• Analytical Essay # 113147 : "Fences" by August Wilson"
• Analytical Essay # 111732 : "August Wilson's " Fences"
• Book Review # 70797 : "Fences"

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