Week 4 Reader Response Journal

Week 4 Reader Response Journal

In the drama Fences, the author August Wilson chose to use narration to tell about a family, the Maxsons, and the struggles they endure within their relationships. The dialogue is rather raw and often dirty as the father Troy speaks bluntly in most matters. This speech is a part of his characterization just as his wife Rose is a sweet and lovely person, the same as her flowery namesake.

The plot of the drama tells of a black family that struggles financially as well as with their relationships. The dad, Troy, who played baseball for the Negro league, won’t allow the son Cory to play ball for a football team and this causes conflict between the father and son. Later in the story, conflicting again, Troy finds out Cory has indeed been playing football and has also quit his job and is neglecting his chores. This conflict appears to be a frustration for Troy not only because Cory has disobeyed his father but because it represents the hurt Troy feels over not having fulfilled his own dream of playing baseball professionally.

The setting of the story Fences is the Maxsons’ family home. Specifically, the home is in Pittsburgh and the dialogue is either taking place on the front porch or in the yard. The setting is rather sparse and also indicates a poor neighborhood. This setting offers a visual aid in the reader’s understanding of the difficulties and trials that the family has and will endure. While the setting is plain and simple the people are quite complex.

The story has various themes involved but I think the most ever reaching is the difficulty within familial relationships. There are power struggles involved such as the one between Troy and Cory where Cory ultimately has to decide if he will comply with his father’s wishes or make his own decisions and there is also the underlying issue of Troy’s unfulfilled dreams standing in the way of his and Cory’s relationship.