Rose’s Song and the Fences in Shakespeare's "The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet"

"Fences" by August Wilson is a powerful play that deals with various themes, such as family, love, duty, and race. It uses the metaphor of fences to represent both literal and figurative barriers constructed by the characters to protect or restrict themselves, and as a symbol for the limitations faced by African Americans during the 1950s in the United States. Different characters relate to and define fences in several ways: 1. Troy Maxson, the protagonist, is a former baseball player who was excluded from the major leagues due to racial discrimination. For him, fences represent the barriers that prevented his success in the sport. He also builds a literal fence around his backyard at the insistence of his wife, Rose. This fence symbolically separates him from the world outside and keeps his family enclosed, showing his desire to protect them from the harsh realities they face as African Americans. 2. Rose, Troy's wife, sees the fence as a means to keep her family together and protect them from external threats. She believes that the fence will provide a sense of security and stability for her family, which she values deeply. Her song in Act I, Scene 2 emphasizes her desire for spiritual protection and guidance. 3. For Cory, Troy and Rose's son, fences symbolize both the limitations imposed on him by his father and the opportunities he wishes to explore. As Cory aspires to pursue a career in football, Troy's refusal to support his dreams and insistence on building the fence during Cory's free time alludes to the generational conflict and the challenges African American youths faced in breaking free from the oppressive boundaries set by society. 4. Bono, Troy's friend, views the fence as a symbol of loyalty and commitment. He appreciates Rose's efforts to maintain the family unit and sees the fence as a barrier to keep out potential threats to her marriage, such as Troy's infidelity. 5. In baseball, fences serve as a boundary that separates the playing field from the spectators and marks the home run line. This relates to Troy's past as a baseball player and the barriers he faced in his career. The title "Fences" is appropriate for the play because it encapsulates various interpretations of fences presented by different characters, and reflects their struggles to overcome the limitations and boundaries in their lives, whether it be racial, social, or personal.