This is a very thrilling story that reflects on the swelling racial tensions during 1950s. To me, this play gives a vivid picture of the encounters of the freed black slaves as they struggled to establish new lives in American cities. It gives the reader a clear understanding of the various generations of the Black Slaves through the use of family in the execution of the story (Shannon, 2003).
This play is significant in that it highlights a number of themes. These include; death, friendship, family relations, racism, love, responsibility and duty. These themes have been brought up in the story line through the discussion of family life of Troy Maxson, the main character. Maxson in the Fence is a very antagonistic man who has a continuous battle with death. In discussing his various encounters, the theme of death is brought out. The themes of family relations and Love among others are also evident in the play (Shannon, 2003). Troy Maxson dedicates his life in ensuring that his family enjoys the various privileges that he missed as he grew up (Shannon, 2003). In highlighting the various themes in the play, the author of this play wanted to give the audience and the readers of this play how the slaves struggle in establishing their lives after gaining their freedom. He also brings to the attention of the audiences such vices as adultery and racism that should be eliminated in the society (Shannon, 2003).
The reason why this play has become a classic is because it is based on major themes that affect the lives of the slaves and in particular, the life after slavery. It discusses various essential issues that affect the society though rarely discussed and a good example is racism as well as adultery. The play is about the life in a black apartment in Pittsburg where a family whose life encounters revolves around the whole play lives in (Shannon, 2003).
References
- Shannon, S. (2003). August Wilson's Fences. New York: Greenwood World Publishing.
