Barriers In The Play Fences

In the play Fences written by August Wilson, Bono, an African American man living in the 1950s states that, “Some people build fences to keep people out...and other people build fences to keep people in” (Wilson 61). In a well developed essay, explore the rationales that lead one to build a fence, and explain what the fence offers to the people who reside inside it.
The Reason for Fences
There are two kinds of fences: those which are built with a hammer and nails, and those that subconsciously build a physiological wall around one’s mind. In either case, both are built from similar premises, and take on a role that functions to comfort those who have built them. Fences, both metaphorically and literally, are purposefully constructed barriers, that aim to protect oneself from what

awaits them on the other side.
In August Wilson’s play entitled Fences, Bono offers the contemplation of the opposing but related function of fences in order to convey the familial relations between Troy and Rose. Troy, an African American man and husband to Rose, starts to build a fence around his house, essentially separating his family from the world outside of it. When analyzing the situation, his rationales for doing so are justified and convincing.
First, the consideration of the time period. The play took place in the 1950s, a time when African American people were finally given a place in society, but all the same, the divide between the blacks and the whites was gapingly obvious. During this period, African American people were “separate but equal,” and the persecution of the color of one’s skin was only just beginning to dawn. Troy rightfully believes that he had been denied his career in baseball because of the color of his skin. Later, he prohibits his son Cory from pursuing his dream of playing football in fear that society would knock down his son, just as it knocked down him. By building a fence, Troy is expressing his intolerance toward society. It’s an attempt to shield his family from the unjust, but socially accepted behavior of oppression towards those with darker skin.
However, not all fences are built around a house. Fences can also be constructed around one’s mind. In today’s age, there seems to be a new monumental movement every month. From marriage equality to second amendment rights, this era has seen it all. But, with a newfound tolerance for everyone’s opinions, the term “politically correct” has exploded in the last few years—and it’s all because of fences.
It seems that the philosophy of political correctness has evolved from making a conscience and genuine effort to avoid offensive remarks towards a belief or way of life to an obligatory duty that welcomes and supports everyone’s opinion as appropriate and correct.

With this sudden need to accept everyone’s opinion comes a sudden need to put a filter on everything we say, think, and do in terms of expression. Because of the rigid boundaries that border the ground of political correctness, we, as Americans, have adapted to these boundaries and ingrained them within our minds. These boundaries essentially function in the same way that fences do in that they protect one from a potential danger, while simultaneously reassuring a sense of comfort. The figurative fence that encodes for political correctness protects one from the dangers of social exploitation that result from the failure to be politically correct. Inside the fence, people are assured that they will not, and cannot possibly offend anyone, and thus avoid a potential conflict, argument, or debate. However, what this fence also does is restrict one in a way that arguably takes away the constitutional right to freedom of

speech.
Fences function as a safe-zone, a guarded ground where an individual is protected from a possible threat. With every fence comes a feeling of security, but also a missed opportunity. Think about how many fences you see everyday: all of the white pickets lining the perimeter of a property, all of things you think but don’t say. Sure, fences can protect us, but equally as significant, they prohibit us.