Fences, August Wilson, 1986

Fences Review

Fences by August Wilson is a family drama set in 1950s Pittsburgh that feels immediate and personal. It follows Troy Maxson, a former Negro League ballplayer turned garbage collector, as he wrestles with pride, regret, and the limits the world put on him. For you, this play offers a sharp look at fathers and sons, marriage under pressure, and the cost of dreams deferred. It is musical in its language, intimate in its stakes, and honest about how love can bruise while it tries to protect.

Overview

The story unfolds in a backyard filled with banter, work, and a fence that slowly rises plank by plank. You will notice how everyday talk carries history: jokes turn to confessions, tall tales reveal wounds. The characters are fully lived in, and the house feels like a small stage for big American questions about opportunity, responsibility, and forgiveness.

Summary

Troy battles his employer, his past, and his family. His wife Rose holds the home steady while their son Cory wants a future Troy mistrusts. A job promotion arrives without respect, a secret breaks the marriage, and a final confrontation draws a line between protection and control. Without spoiling the last scenes, the fence stands finished, and the family decides what to keep inside and what to let go. The ending carries grief and a quiet opening toward grace.

Author

August Wilson writes with rhythm and depth. He gives each character dignity and room to argue for their life. You benefit from dialogue that sounds like music and lands like truth.

Key Themes

You will see legacy as both gift and weight. You will meet manhood defined by work and threatened by change. You will consider love as a practice, not a feeling. You will notice how a fence can keep danger out and keep people in.

Strengths and Weaknesses

Strengths: rich characters, fluent dialogue, and moral clarity. Weaknesses: Troy’s stubbornness may test patience, and the structure leans on speeches. Overall: a powerful portrait of family and the times that shape it.

Target Audience

Best for readers who want character first drama and for groups ready to discuss race, duty, and forgiveness.

Favorite Quotes

Short lines resonate: some people build fences to keep people out, some build to keep people in. I wrestled with Death and won for now. They carry the play’s heartbeat.

Takeaways

For you, the key takeaway is that protection without listening becomes control. Legacy matters, but it should not smother someone else’s future.