Fences (Cyclopedia of Literary Places)
At a glance:
- Author: August Wilson
- First Published: 1985
- Type of Work: Drama
- Type of Plot: Domestic realism
- Time of Work: 1957-1965
- Genres: Domestic realism, Drama
- Subjects: 1950’s, African Americans, Discrimination, 1960’s, Family or family life, United States or Americans, Racism, Communication, Marriage, Alienation, Yards or backyards, Adultery, City life, Working class
- Locales: Pittsburgh, PA
Places Discussed
Maxson home. African American home in an unspecified city, possibly Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The Maxsons’ yard, which is an extension of their house, represents Troy Maxson’s ambivalent feelings: his spirit, large like his body, desires the rootedness of home but resists its limitations. The responsibilities of his family bind him even more closely than did the prison in which he has spent fifteen years. The yard keeps Troy close to home, yet is not as confining as the house itself. The unfenced yard also signifies the era of the play, a time when African...
[The entire page is 1011 words long]
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