Analysis Of August Wilson's Fences

Clearly Confused Confusion can often lead to clarity. Humans often feel a vast array of emotions at any given time that are more often than not, conflicting. These emotions lead to a healthy confusion of pleasure and disquietude. While these two emotions may be a confusing mixture, they often lead to clarity in regard to an underlying meaning or message. This same thought process can be applied to works of literature. A healthy confusion of pleasure and disquietude allows the reader to remain engaged and involved in a novel long enough to either learn a lesson or understand an underlying idea of the work. This healthy confusion is evident throughout the play Fences. Throughout August Wilson’s play, Fences, Wilson conveys a healthy confusion

Without the two conflicting emotions, many of the lessons and morals demonstrated in the play would be lost in the mixture. It is easy to simply look a work of literature and only look at the overlying plot. However, what is much more important is analyzing the deeper foundation and core message that often lies slightly deeper than the surface. In order for a reader to effectively do this, the reader must be engaged and interested in the work of literature. This ability to convey meaning and an idea is what divides a superior work from its peers. August Wilson’s play effectively demonstrates its deeper meaning and morals by developing the key sense of healthy confusion of pleasure and disquietude in the reader. An example of this is evident when Troy Maxson must tell his wife about his affair. In this he receives his due punishment, which creates a sense of pleasure for the reader. On the same token however, the reader cannot help but feel guilty that Troy is losing his family because he is not entirely bad. This example helps to emphasize the complexity of family and morals. Without a healthy confusion of virtue and contempt, this message would not have been conveyed

The mix of emotions has been evident throughout the course of the play. Not only is this healthy confusion beneficial, but it is imperative to the success of the literary works as a whole. Just as Troy Maxson demonstrates, humans are made up of an array of contrasting emotions. Conflicting emotions can often be confusing, but in the end they often lead to a profound