August Wilson The Importance Of Women

Importance of women

In the era before the twentieth century, everyone did not have equal opportunity as they have now. For many years, African Americans were slaves and were treated poorly. After world war 2, things started to get a little better. African Americans were not slaves anymore. In those times, a lot of men never accepted the importance of women. Some women were still being treated badly and most of them did not have much importance in their own household. August Wilson, who was an American playwright, wrote a play called ‘Fences’. The play explains how the things were different in the twentieth century than it is right now in the twenty-first century. In the play, Troy Maxson, Who

is a garbage collector, Is married to a woman named Rose Lee. They have been married for eighteen years. In all those eighteen years, Rose treated Troy like the king of the house. She stood up with him in bad times, she took care of him and their family. Even though Rose gave up her life in making Troy’s life happy, All she gets in return from Troy is cheating. Troy cheated on her and was having an affair with another woman named Alberta. When Rose finds out about this affair, she asks Troy for an explanation. Troy tries to explain to her that he was standing in the same place for eighteen years and he wanted some change and happiness in his life. He never really understood that Rose was standing there with him too at the same place for eighteen years. This shows how women did not have importance in their own household in the twentieth century. Play’s attitudes towards women was bad and unfair, but women helped men a lot, women were the base of their family and they hold their family together against all odds. This dramatic play shows and teaches a lot of different facts from the twentieth century.
Women are the base of the family, but Wilson never gave them importance in his plays because of his stereotypical beliefs.

In the article “The ground on which I stand: August Wilson’s Perspective on African American Women.” August Wilson shares his point of view with Shannon, Sandra G. He says “I doubt seriously if I would make a woman the focus of my work simply because of the fact that I am a man, and I guess because of the ground on which I stand and the viewpoint from which I perceive the world.” So his beliefs were that men are way more significant than women. He believed that men are on a whole other level and they stand on the different ground compared to women. We can also see the reflection of Wilson’s beliefs in the play ‘Fences’. In the play. Troy never considered his wife Roses feelings. She did everything possible a woman could do to make him happy such as cooking, cleaning, putting up with his actions and caring for his children, but Troy never gave her the importance or credit that she truly deserved and instead he cheated on her. This shows that since the author of the play believes women are less important, his characters in the play will also not believe in respecting

women.
Although Wilson did not give that much of importance to women, he believed that women were strong and masculine. Wilson’s mother, Daisy Wilson was the model on which he based the majority of his women characters. In the article “The ground on which I stand: August Wilson’s Perspective on African American Women.” Wilson also says that “My mother’s a very strong, principled woman. My female characters like Rose come in large part from my mother.” So most of the female characters in his play were reflecting what his mother was. In the play ‘Fences’ we can see after Rose figures out that her husband Troy has a child with another woman named Alberta, and since she is passed away, Troy has to take care of the child. So instead of depending on Troy to take care of things, Rose decides to leave the house that she and Troy share as a strong, independent African-American woman, and she takes care of her children along with Alberta’s child. It shows that since the author believed women were strong, his female character Rose also played a role of a strong and independent woman.
Women are the one who helps men in every household activity. Women helped men a lot but though Wilson believes that women are dependent on male and level of women is lower than men. In the article “The women Question” by Jr. Elam Harry, he discusses the level of women in Wilson’s play. Harry says, “Women exist in subordinate positions in Wilson’s projects”. So Wilson believed that men are on higher level than women. We can see his beliefs in play ‘Fences’ when Troy was talking with his friend, Rose arrives them and asks what they are up to? In reply troy says, “ what are you worried about what are we getting into for? this is man talk woman.” The way he talks shows that he doesn't really treats the way Rose treated him at all. In fact, he treats her worse.
In the article “‘Mouths on fire’: August Wilson’s Blueswomen” by Doris Davis, Bessie Smith makes out a really good about men.

She says, "A man that believe in himself still need a woman that believe in him. You can't make life happen without a woman.You'll see a hard time when your good woman is gone". In the play ‘Fences’, Troy was born in the 20th century and he was African American. There was very less opportunity in that time period for blacks. For example, Troy was a garbage collector and he really had proud of it. So we can see that if an African American person could be proud of collecting garbage then how much of little opportunities they had to work for a living. Troy’s came from a bad family, his father was rude towards him and he disrespected women too, He left his house at the age of 14. He even went to jail in the case of murdering somebody. Considering all problems he faced in his life, He could have lived his life in a really bad way and also could never have made a family. But he did make a family with Rose after getting married to her. Even though he made a family, he could not keep it together for so long. He wanted some fun rather than love of Rose and that is why he cheated on her by being in an affair with another woman named Alberta. In his life, after doing all the fun he wanted by being with Alberta, He does realize that life is very hard when good women are gone when Rose leaves him after she gets to know about his affair. He does realize that women

are really very important in the life. But unfortunately, it was too late when he realizes it. By the time he realizes that, he was very near to death.

In Act 1 Scene, 1 of the play Wilson explains Rose’s devotion to Troy. Wilson goes on to explain how bad her life would be if she didn't have Troy. He states that without him she would have a succession of abusive men and their babies, a life of partying and running the streets, the church, or aloneness with its attendant pain and frustration. Also, he explains that Rose recognizes the good she receives from Troy so, then she forgives and forgets the faults he has. This shows that August Wilson thinks that if a woman doesn't have a man then she will live a bad life, and that proves how he feels about women in general.