Fences August Wilson

Early Life Grew up in in a Pittsburgh ghetto called “The Hill” Grew up in in a Pittsburgh ghetto called “The Hill” Father was white and abandoned mother and 6 kids Father was white and abandoned mother and 6 kids Mother worked as a janitor after father left Mother worked as a janitor after father left

Education Dropped out of school in ninth grade Dropped out of school in ninth grade –Falsely accused of plagiarism (racism) Self-educated (read extensively at the local library Read works of African Americans such a s Langston Hughes and Ralph Ellison He submitted his poems to a black publication at the University of Pittsburgh

Early Adulthood 1968 he founded the Black Horizon Theater Company in St. Paul, Minnesota 1968 he founded the Black Horizon Theater Company in St. Paul, Minnesota Community theater aimed at increasing the political awareness and activism of area residents (civil rights movement) Community theater aimed at increasing the political awareness and activism of area residents (civil rights movement) He used the playhouse as the forum for his first dramas He used the playhouse as the forum for his first dramas

Writing Career (1981) Black Bart and the Sacred Hills (1981) Black Bart and the Sacred Hills (1982) Jitney (1982) Jitney (1984) Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom (1984) Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom –First big hit –Opened at Yale and later moved to Broadway –About a black blues singer’s exploitation of her fellow musicians –Play establishes Wilson as an up and coming playwright on the national stage. (noted for its authentic, lively dialogue.

Fences Pulitzer Prize winning play Pulitzer Prize winning play Former athlete who forbids his son to accept an athletic scholarship Former athlete who forbids his son to accept an athletic scholarship Set in the 1950’s in a big city just prior to the civil rights movement Set in the 1950’s in a big city just prior to the civil rights movement

Background on Fences Turn of the century blacks migrated North and had difficulty assimilating into the white culture Turn of the century blacks migrated North and had difficulty assimilating into the white culture Often forced to take menial jobs and live in run-down, segregated sections of the city Often forced to take menial jobs and live in run-down, segregated sections of the city Never lost their dream for equality that M.L. King would try to win for them in the 1960’s Never lost their dream for equality that M.L. King would try to win for them in the 1960’s

Setting of the Play Ancient two story brick home in a big city ghetto-most likely Pittsburgh Ancient two story brick home in a big city ghetto-most likely Pittsburgh Year is 1957—just prior to the Civil Rights Movement Year is 1957—just prior to the Civil Rights Movement

Themes Evils of Prejudice A man should be judged by what he does rather than by what he looks like A man should be judged by what he does rather than by what he looks like Troy symbolizes the tragedy of a generation held back by white suppression Troy symbolizes the tragedy of a generation held back by white suppression

Human Frailty Humans are by nature imperfect Humans are by nature imperfect We are prone to repeating the mistakes of our past We are prone to repeating the mistakes of our past Human condition—Troy’s boyhood abuse leads to his parental failure Human condition—Troy’s boyhood abuse leads to his parental failure

Missed Possibilities (Dream Deferred) We must be prepared and free to act on opportunities that present themselves: Both Troy and Cory miss out on opportunities We must be prepared and free to act on opportunities that present themselves: Both Troy and Cory miss out on opportunities Old baseball rag is a reminder of triumph and failure Old baseball rag is a reminder of triumph and failure

The Destructive Nature of Envy Troy’s bitterness concerning his missed opportunities leads to an unhealthy envy which causes his son an opportunity to advance Troy’s bitterness concerning his missed opportunities leads to an unhealthy envy which causes his son an opportunity to advance

Inability to Adapt to Change Troy is unable to see the changes in America’s social fabric. Troy is unable to see the changes in America’s social fabric. He is blinded by his own past He is blinded by his own past Cory sees possibilities Troy can’t even imagine Cory sees possibilities Troy can’t even imagine

A Desire to Escape from our Responsibilities Troy’s desire to escape is domestic responsibilities ironically results in yet another responsibility Troy’s desire to escape is domestic responsibilities ironically results in yet another responsibility