Wilson said that he “started [his play] Fences with the image of a man standing in his yard with a baby in his arms” (qtd. in DeVries 25). This first picture developed into the Pulitzer Prize winning story of Troy Maxson, a fifty-three-year-old, black garbage collector in Pittsburgh. The play starts 1957 and ends 1965 with the death of Troy. In the play we get an insight into Troy’s life with his wife Rose, his sons Cory and Lyons, his brother Gabriel and his best friend Bono. Troy has to face a lot of challenges. First of all, he has to live in a racist society which denied him to live his dream of being a baseball player. Wang says that “the tragic dimension of the play is delineated by the conflict between characters’ tenacious pursuit of their dreams and an environment which works adversely to prevent them from realizing their dreams” (Wang 63). Furthermore, Troy has to work at a garbage department. His hard job gets him just enough money to nourish his family. Also, in his family he has a lot of problems to deal with, especially with his son Cory, who wants to become a professional football player, but also with his wife Rose. The reason for his problems with Rose is that Troy has an affair with another woman, Alberta, and impregnated her. So, the story of the life of Troy Maxson is a story about racism, friendship, segregation, family, love, shattered dreams, rejection and of course baseball.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Baseball references
3. Black Baseball and the American Dream
3.1. Racial segregation
3.2. Black Baseball and the Negro Leagues
4. Conclusion
Objectives & Topics
This work explores the profound connection between the sport of baseball and the life of the protagonist in August Wilson’s play "Fences," using the game as a metaphor to examine the realities of African American experience, systemic racism, and the unattainability of the American Dream during the mid-20th century.
- The symbolic function of the baseball field as a setting for struggle and identity.
- The deconstruction of the American Dream through the lens of racial exclusion.
- Analysis of father-son relationships interpreted through baseball-related conflict.
- The historical impact of segregation and the Negro Leagues on African American athletes.
Excerpt from the Book
3.2. BLACK BASEBALL AND THE NEGRO LEAGUES
Fences takes place at a time when the baseball’s color line was already crossed by Jackie Robinson. However, the way to reach this point was a very long and the way after this achievement would not be an easier one. Before Jackie Robinson, there was no chance or opportunity for an African American man to play baseball in the Major Leagues. Due to this, the black players found their own way to play professional baseball: the Negro Leagues, which were found in 1920 (Tygiel 24). However the life in the Negro Leagues was not like the life of the real Major League players. They had to suffer under racial conditions and George Giles, player for the St. Louis Stars even said: “The racism we faced was one of the things that eventually pushed me out of baseball” (Craft 44). Not only was the live in the Negro Leagues a hard one, it was also a tough one for the first black players in the Major Leagues. Jackie Robinson, who was 1947 allowed to play as the first black player in the Major Leagues was not chosen because he was the best baseball player, but for the fact that he was a role model (Koprince 351). He was able to “take abuse, name-calling, rejection by fans and sportswriters and by fellow players not only on opposing teams but on his own” (qtd. in Shannon Dramatic Vision 97).
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: Introduces the play "Fences" and the protagonist Troy Maxson, establishing the central themes of racism, shattered dreams, and the metaphorical role of baseball in his life.
2. Baseball references: Analyzes the symbolic setting of Troy's yard as a baseball field, examining its duality as a battlefield and a potential sacred space.
3. Black Baseball and the American Dream: Explores the tension between the democratic ideals represented by baseball and the harsh realities of discrimination that hindered Troy’s aspirations.
3.1. Racial segregation: Examines how systemic segregation in American society served as a barrier to the personal and professional success of African Americans in the era of the play.
3.2. Black Baseball and the Negro Leagues: Discusses the historical context of professional baseball for Black players, focusing on the challenges of the Negro Leagues and the legacy of Jackie Robinson.
4. Conclusion: Synthesizes how Wilson utilizes baseball as a mirror for American history and culture, highlighting the transition from institutionalized exclusion to broader social change.
Keywords
August Wilson, Fences, Troy Maxson, Baseball, American Dream, Racial segregation, Negro Leagues, Jackie Robinson, Metaphor, African American, Theater, Sports literature, Civil Rights Movement, Social mobility, Symbolism.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this academic work?
The work examines August Wilson’s play "Fences" to analyze how the game of baseball serves as a complex metaphor for the African American experience and the struggle against systemic inequality.
What are the central thematic areas covered?
Key themes include the American Dream, racial segregation, the symbolic nature of the baseball field, and the complex dynamics of father-son relationships.
What is the main research objective?
The objective is to demonstrate how Wilson uses baseball terminology and imagery to reveal the historical and social conditions that challenged African American identity in the mid-20th century.
Which scientific method is applied here?
The author employs a literary analysis approach, drawing upon historical context, secondary academic criticism, and direct textual evidence from the play to support the metaphorical interpretation.
What topics are discussed in the main body?
The main body treats the setting of the yard as a symbol, the linguistic use of baseball metaphors by the characters, the historical impact of the Negro Leagues, and the intersection of personal tragedy with social history.
Which keywords characterize the work?
Prominent keywords include August Wilson, Fences, American Dream, racial segregation, Negro Leagues, and baseball metaphor.
How does the author interpret the baseball bat in the context of the father-son conflict?
The author argues that the baseball bat, which represents the father’s past dreams, is paradoxically transformed into a weapon during the violent confrontations between Troy and his son Cory.
Why does Troy resent Jackie Robinson according to the analysis?
Troy’s resentment stems from a belief that the Negro League players were fundamentally ignored despite their talent, and that Robinson’s selection was based more on his role as a public image than on his status as the "best" player.
- Citar trabajo
- Verena Bär (Autor), 2011, Baseball Mythology in August Wilson's Fences, Múnich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/230143
