Deconstructing Fences Literary Devices

Greek theatre introduced the world to various terms that aren’t used quite often today, including the words peripeteia, anagonorisis, and parabasis. These fancy terms are used to describe common elements that are still seen to this day in theatrical productions. This includes a reversal of fortune and/or when the protagonist has an epiphany. Both are extremely common plot elements used often if not always in the present day writings. August Wilson’s incorporates many of these terms and more in his 1985 play, Fences. Deconstructing Fences will give a better understand to how these ancient terms can still be applied to modern everyday theatre.

There are seven characters in Fences, but from the first few pages of the script it is clear that Troy

They have their ups and they have a few downs, but it isn’t until act 2 when the real moment of peripeteia arrives. This is the reveal Troy’s affair with Alberta, who the audience never actually meets, and learning that Alberta is going to have Raynell. After this moment, everything horribly changes and Troy is past the point of no return. His marriage to Rose wasn’t perfect from the start, but this drove in a permanent wedge between them, especially when Rose takes in Raynell after Alberta dies from childbirth. Raynell is a permanent reminder to Rose that Troy had an affair. Troy’s relationship with Cory also plummets to an all-time low after the reveal, and eventually leads to Cory being kicked out/leaving for good after his big confrontation with his father. Before the affair, Troy’s life was decent. He fought for a promotion at work, and he won. Rose loved him and was the “perfect little housewife.” He was even able to share a laugh or two. After this moment of peripeteia, Troy’s life is anything but pleasurable and the loved ones he used to surround himself with are

A question the audience may ask themselves, and begin to decipher, is why was the play named Fences? There are arguable reasons behind this. The fence in the show is a symbol. Fences typically block out the things one does not want near or surrounding them and keep in the things that are wanted. The gate on the fence can be controlled, whether it opens or not. Troy is like the fence. Troy emotionally blocked the other characters out and often didn’t let them in. Troy wants to control every aspect of his life. He used the fence to discard what he did not want any involvement in. When Cory said that he would eventually be back for his things, Troy replied by saying that they would be on the other side of the fence. This is a perfect example. He no longer wanted Cory to be part of his life, so he was kicked to the other side of the fence, no longer welcome inside. This desire for control sparks fear in Troy; the fear of losing that control. The fence feels like his protection, but it participated in his downfall. The fence was even a source of tension between Cory and Troy, defeating the purpose. It is also important to note that the play was titled Fences not fence. Troy built up multiple barriers in his life whether it was with Cory, Rose or even himself. The symbolism of the title becomes more apparent when thinking about the true purpose of a fence. This symbolism is