Fences 1987 By August Wilson

August Wilson’s Biography Vital Statistics Born in 1945, Pittsburgh, PA Died in 2005, Seattle, WA Education Dropped out high school in ninth grade Teacher accused him of plagiarism Educated himself at the library

August Wilson Local connection Professional life Moved to St. Paul, MN in 1977 Director of Black Horizons (later Penumbra) Scriptwriter for Science Museum of Minnesota Professional life Premier playwright of black experience in modern times Twelve plays (two Pulitzer Prize winners) including: Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom (Broadway) 1984 Joe Turner’s Come and Gone (Broadway) 1988 The Piano Lesson (Pulitzer Prize, Broadway) 1990 Gem of the Ocean 2003 Taught a playwriting course at Dartmouth College

His purpose of these plays was to: Wrote a cycle of ten plays each set in a separate decade of the 20th century His purpose of these plays was to: Bring Blacks a sense of their identity and a connection to their own tradition rooted in Africa, which was lost in trying to assimilate into White culture Show Blacks the importance of the present: ”Look at us…our lives, hopes, dreams, frustrations…who we are (now).”

August Wilson

Fences Finished in 1986 in St. Paul Produced on Broadway 1987 Won Pulitzer Prize for drama in 1987

Plot Story of a former NBL player, Troy Maxson, a large man whose presence overpowers others, and his struggles with his unfulfilled dreams, fears, and blackness.

Fences’ Setting and Structure Set in the urban industrial North, 1957-1965, on the eve of the Civil Rights Movement Troy’s back porch and small dirt yard with a partial fence and a tree with ball of rags hanging The two-act play covers nine years in nine scenes-Baseball metaphor Act I .1-4 covers two weeks Act II . 1-4 covers several months Act II . 5 takes place seven years later

Fences Main Character Troy Maxson: 53 year-old protagonist Moved north at the age of 14 Jailed 15 years for homicide Played in Negro Baseball League with dreams of playing in Major Baseball League Now a garbage man on second marriage with two sons by two wives

Fences Other characters: Bono Troy’s good friend of many years Met Troy in prison Rose Maxson Troy’s wife A strong woman who sees changes in the world Cory Maxson Son of Troy and Rose High school senior Gifted football player

Fences Other characters Gabe: Lyons: Troy’s brother, hurt in war Thinks he’s the Archangel Gabriel Lyons: Troy’s son from his first marriage Wants to be a jazz musician

Negro Baseball League 1920-Rube Foster founded NBL 1930’s drew crowds of +40,000 outdrew white teams

Key players LeRoy Satchel Paige, Pitcher Josh Gibson, catcher with .400 batting average

Demise of NBL Jackie Robinson integrated the National League, 1947 – Brooklyn Dodgers