Theme Of Women In Fences

After World War II, the United States has emerged as the world's number one power in both economic and military. However, the consequence of this strong emergence makes the contradictions internal of the US more painful than ever. These are the gap between rich and poor is increasing in large cities, the discrimination that people of skin color suffer every day, and the inequality gender between male and female in American society. In the 1950s after the war, women still played the traditional role in the life of the family as a housewife. However, it seems that the war brings them a taste of another life and an opportunity that pushed them slowly breaking out to become more independent. Through the main character Rose in the play Fences, a Modern play was written in 1985 by the African-American playwright August Wilson, it is not difficult to recognize the black women’s true images in the 1950s whose were limited in the role of expected being a good wife and mother, trying to become stronger, as well as filling of altruism.

August Wilson’s Fences depicts life in the 1950s for a typical African American family. The play touches upon racism, shifting family dynamics, and the politics of war. While racism plays an important and vital role in the play, instead of lamenting the issue, Wilson uses the characters as a weapon against the rampant racism of the time. In the same fashion, the relationship between Troy, Rose, and Cory demonstrates the shifting cultural and family dynamics of the decade. Likewise, Wilson’s depiction of Gabriel as a wounded veteran who is not fully supported by the government that sent him off to war offers an enlightening commentary on the politics of the era. Wilson uses the

The marriage between Troy and Rose was shown differently in Denzel Washington’s production of Fences and the 1985 original play by American playwright, August Wilson. August Wilson’s play centered around the Maxson family, the life of Troy Maxson and the decisions he made that affected his marriage and family. The Maxson marriage was depicted on the 1950’s era whereby a woman’s place was in the home. While Rose was home tending to the house and children, Troy provided for the family. Throughout the movie and play, we see how Troy’s actions and decisions affected the relationships with his friends and family. The primary relationship highlighted in both the play and movie is that of Troy and Rose and how it completely disintegrates towards the end of the story. In August Wilson’s portrayal of Rose, she is described as one that has been challenged throughout her life, but still manages to be a strong centerpiece for the family. Denzel Washington’s movie conveys the

Well come on…I’ll make a batch of biscuits,” (26). Rose steadily tries to be the best mother that she can be for the Maxson family and not just take care of herself. She represents the primary care giver of the Maxson household by cooking for everybody and bringing the whole family in together to eat. “Okay, Troy…you’re right. I’ll take care of your baby for you…cause…like you say…she’s innocent…and you can’t visit the sins of the father upon the child. A motherless child has got a hard time,” (79). By Rose saying and doing this, it just proves how loving and tender hearted she is. Even though Rose is not the child’s mother, she still wants what is best for the baby. “Stop that yelling. You gonna wake up Raynell. I just got her to sleep,” (80). This shows that Rose has fully accepted Raynell as her daughter. Rose does not see Raynell as just Troy’s daughter but also hers too. Rose says, talking about Lyons, “Let the boy have ten dollars, Troy,” (19). This shows how loving and caring Rose acts towards Troy’s son. Rose and Troy clearly do not have enough money to be giving it out, but she encourages Troy to give some to Lyons because she cares about everyone. Rose is a very good hearted person who uses all of her characterisitcs to keep everyone in the family together and keep them in check.

Conflicts and tensions between family members and friends are key elements in August Wilson's play, Fences. The main character, Troy Maxon, has struggled his whole life to be a responsible person and fulfill his duties in any role that he is meant to play. In turn, however, he has created conflict through his forbidding manner. The author illustrates how the effects of Troy's stern upbringing cause him to pass along a legacy of bitterness and anger which creates tension and conflict in his relationships with his family.

Troy cheats on his wife, Rose, in Fences by August Wilson. Throughout the play, Troy and Rose go through obstacles created by Troy cheating on Rose and the problems faced by African Americans during the 1940s. Unnecessary boundaries, such as those created by Troy’s ethnicity, dishonesty, and inability to be loved destroyed his quality of life, and therefore his will to live. Examples of lack of honesty, loss of love, and hatred show and enhance Wilson’s theme that ethnicity, dishonesty, and inability to be loved can destroy one’s will to live. The author conveyed the truth that unnecessary boundaries can lead to problems that eat away at one’s quality of life by using examples of boundaries created by hatred, lack of honesty, and loss of love.

As the play develops, we find out that Troy has been unfaithful to Rose with a woman named Alberta who becomes pregnant by him. Rose becomes devastated because she has devoted her whole life to Troy and now she comes to find out that he had been seeing someone else behind her back. A few months go by and Rose gets a call from the hospital about Alberta, she had the baby but she died giving birth. When Rose tells Troy that she died Troy is in shock and walks to the back yard.

Born in 1945, Wilson grew up in a misogynist society. He was able to witness the vocal power that a man could express over a woman. Many women took on the role of staying home to maintain the household and be of service to their husbands.(Women in 1950s). A nuclear family structure was ideal during this time period.(Women in 1950s). Being that Wilson was raised during this era he was apart of a nuclear family, being raised by his mother and her second husband. Moreover, Wilson’s upbringing has influenced his writings. Despite the mentality of a subservient wife and a male being the head of the household, Wilson does not depict the woman of his writings to be subjected to a man’s authority he demonstrates the opposite that can be realized through a deeper analysis of the text.

In the play Fences by August Wilson, Troy Maxson is the protagonist and can be portrayed as a meticulous, amusing, and dependable character. Rose Maxson is Troy’s younger wife and she is depicted as faithful, affectionate towards her children and husband, and iron-willed. Troy and Rose have been together for eighteen years and have a marriage that even the most cheerful people would envy; they can count on one another, they share jokes and laughs, and they have worked hard together to earn the things they have. Although their marriage seems well-built and joyful, this picture of bliss soon diminishes when Rose Maxson discovers a secret happening that her husband has been keeping from her. The audience or reader can see there has been an

As the roles of an African American men begin to evolve during the post-slavery time period, women’s roles remained unchanged. In this case, in August Wilson’s play Fences, Wilson’s perspective on gender roles explains the traditions of both men and women, the oppression and objectification of women, and the social roles. For instance, “Indeed, Wilson’s perspective on responsibility might appear dubious to those unfamiliar with his decidedly male ethos, which he links to the history of black male-female relations in America” (Shannon 199). Conflict arises between Troy and his family because of his representation in gender roles that were traditionally meant to play. This is the view on how Troy communicates with his wife, Rose throughout the play. Furthermore, because of the strict gender roles, Troy has a narrow view as how African Americans are being treated in the society and a tunnel view on what he believes on how the world operates.

Within August Wilson’s Fences, the conflict between the authority figures within the Maxson household was prevalent. At this time in history, misogyny was widespread, and men typically held a large majority of the authority positions in society. Some scenes from Wilson’s Fences would include times in which Troy Maxson would depict seemingly oppressive authority over his family members. Troy often acted in a rather arrogant manner, which contributed to the strong sense of patriarchy that was present in the Maxson household at times. Contrary to this, Wilson included scenes in which Rose showed superiority over her husband. Applying feminist literary criticism to these specific scenes can allow the reader or viewer to analyze the

In the play “Fences” by August Wilson the play’s attitude toward women is biased, and if the play was written by a female I think it would have a stronger feminine influence. Issues such as racism and discrimination against blacks may be raised in the play that the author did not bring up, and the women in the story somewhat do generally typify women in the 1950s. To support my interpretation, the women in the play were homebodies, just worrying about the household because they felt like that 's what they were supposed to do and that 's all that was expected of them and etc.

Fences took place in the 1950’s, during that time the role of women in the 1950 was repressive and constrictive in a lot of ways. The 1950s is often viewed as a period of conformity, when both men and women observed strict gender roles and complied with society’s expectations (Women in 1950’s). Society placed a very high significance on different expectations on behavior in public as well as at home. Women were to be homemakers, caring mothers, and to be an obedient wife to their husbands. A wife was only considered a “good wife” if she did anything and everything her husband asked for and agreed with everything the man would say. This was the type of way Troy treated Rose in fences and how he thought of women and their

Rose Maxon is the female character in the play ‘Fences’ by August Wilson. She is married to Troy Maxon and together they have a son named Cory. The play takes place in the 1950s and it focuses on racism, oppression, family problems, unity, and infidelity. Particularly Rose, who is a Black woman in the 50s, without an education, a housewife, and is expected to behave as the caretaker for everyone. Rose Maxon: duties include being a mother/caretaker, house taker, wife. Puts herself aside for everyone else’s needs. She experiences the struggle and constant wariness of her family’s safety. Troy, is a garbageman who witnesses much of the racism and segregation that occurs during the 1950s. He provides for his family, and he is considered the

Fences took place in the 1950’s, during that time the role of women in the 1950 was repressive and constrictive in a lot of ways. Society placed a very high significance on different expectations on behavior in public as well as at home. Women were to be homemakers, caring mothers, and to be an obedient wife to their husbands. A wife was only considered a “good wife” if she did anything and everything her husband asked for and agreed with everything the man would say. This was the type of way Troy treated Rose in fences and how he thought of women and their roles. This essay will reveal the womanistic and feministic aspects that were introduced in the play. The purpose of this essay is to examine how August Wilson portrayed women in the play, to examine the themes and issues blacks dealt with in the 1950’s, to see how a female playwright might write the play differently, and to compare the roles of woman in August Wilson’s “Fences”to Jamaica Kincaid’s “Girl”.