Response to the play “Fences” Act I

Response to the play “Fences” Act I

Who is the protagonist? What are the protagonist’s most distinctive traits?

Troy Maxson is the protagonist.

Troy’s most distinctive trait is he takes care of his family, and is a man with responsibility. According to a 1965 report by Daniel Patrick Moynihan, known as The Moynihan Report, the out-of-wedlock birth rate was 25 percent among blacks. In 1991, 68 percent of black children were born outside of marriage. In 2011, 72% of Black babies were born to unwed mothers. Unlike many other black men who are so called the “walking blues”, they just take off (1213), Troy gives the family his sweat and his blood (1208).

What potential for conflict do you see?

Troy’s son, Cory, asked him: “How come you ain’t never liked me” (1207)? Troy answered: “What law is there say I got to like you?” “I go out of here every morning… bust my butt… putting up with them crackers every day… ‘cause I like you? You about the biggest fool I ever saw. It’s my job. It’s my responsibility” (1207)! We feel that Troy does like his son, but he buries it deep. For example, when Troy finally got a promotion which is instead of picking up the garbage standing in the back of the truck, he becomes the first colored driver (1211), his son, Cory, was the first person he wanted to share the news with in the family. He left the commissioner’s office and went to the A&P. Unfortunately, that was how he found out Cory had quit his part-time job at A&P, so he can play football (1213). The conflict between the father and the son is Troy doesn’t want Cory to be like him as a garbage man, and from Troy’s experiences with baseball, he thinks sports is a dead end for colored people (1205). He wants Cory to move on for a brighter future, and he knows that “ain’t nobody gonna hold his hand when he get out there in that world” (1208). Therefore, he teaches his son the tough way. Troy never encourages Cory in a positive way, not mention to show any affection. No wonder Cory said to Troy, “Just ‘cause you didn’t have a chance! You just scared I’m gonna be better than you (1217).  This is the potential conflict I see. There will be a big battle between them sooner or later.

Does all the action occur in one time and place? How much time tends to pass between scenes?

Most action occurs in Troy’s front yard where the unfinished fence is still building.

Act one is about things that happened in three weeks in 1957. Mostly on the payday Friday and the following Saturday.

Are any details repeated throughout the play? Do any of these repeated details seem to have special significance?

1. Troy’s brother, Gabriel, keeps repeating about Saint Peter’s Gate to heaven and get ready for the Judgment on page 1201, 1202, 1211, and 1212. I assume death will be one of the themes in Act two.

2. Jim Bono mentioned that he saw Troy with another woman, Alberta, together twice in Act one on page 1190 and 1209. Since Jim Bono is Troy’s best friend and they work together, I expect that Troy has an affair. The significance is the relationship between Troy and Alberta will damage Troy’s marriage and hurt his wife, Rose, who he truly loves dearly.