Preview

Fences by August Wilson is a Tragedy

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
426 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Fences by August Wilson is a Tragedy
To What Extent Can Fences By August Wilson Be Considered A "Tragedy"?

The plot explicated to Troy Maxson,who had a wife and one son. The story commenced with Troy having his best friend Bono in an ordinary day working as garbage collectors. Troy has his son Lyons from his first wife, and Cory by Rose, his second wife. Troy underpinned himself in his struggle of racial discrimination and he did able to crack the differential as being the first black garbage wagon driver. However, Troy was tempted and he had caught himself trapped in a forbidden relationship with Alberta, his mistress. On the one hand, he had also put a barrier towards Cory’s ambition to study in college; Tory did not sign the permission letter for Cory to acquire the football scholarship program as access to college. However, Troy was also confused with Alberta’s pregnancy state, whereby he was compelled to confess his affair up to his wife Rose. Alberta died in parturition and Rose accepted to raise the child. Bono was gone, his sons, his mistress, and his wife. The story depicts Troy’s death; Cory and Raynell, his son with Alberta, sang a song in honor of him. Troy was accepted in heaven with Angel Gabriel in the scene was shown in the last plot (Shmoop Editorial Team a) The plot was associated to Oedipus, who had a very unfortunate life. In Thebes, where Oedipus ruled as a king, a curse was distressing all throughout the land. Oedipus was determined to save his kingdom from these detrimental prophecies. In the quest for solutions, he had ordered Creon to move out from the palace and went to Apollo to ask for help. However, Apollo uttered that the murderer of the previous king of Thebes must be killed for the curse to completely vanish. The Chorus implicated that Teiresias, a prophet, could possibly provide the missing piece of information. Oedipus compelled Teiresias to speak and he found out that he himself was the murderer. Dismally, the prophecy uttered that Oedipus would kill his own



References: Shmoop Editorial Team a. "Fences Summary" Shmoop.com. Shmoop University, Inc., 11 Nov. 2008. Web. 28 Nov. 2012. . Shmoop Editorial Team b. "Oedipus the King Oedipus the King Summary" Shmoop.com. Shmoop University, Inc., 11 Nov. 2008. Web. 28 Nov. 2012. .

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Powerful Essays

    Troy does not want to accept the changes in the world because that would cause him to accept the death of his own dreams.…

    • 978 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Better Essays

    August Wilson was an influential 20th-century playwright and the most prominent African American of that craft. Born on April 27, 1945, August Wilson grew up in the Hill district of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. His childhood experiences in this black slum community would later become part of his dramatic writings. Though he lived much of his adult life in St. Paul, Minnesota, and in Seattle, the characters and plots of his plays were inspired by realities he experienced growing up in Pittsburgh 's Hill District and Oakland neighborhood. August Wilson’s, Fences set in the late 1950 's tells the story of Troy Maxson, an uneducated trash collector who has become resentful by a racist system that has deprived of him the baseball career he feels he deserves. This resentment has also caused turmoil in his relationship with his sons Cory and Lyons. Cory 's disobedience and Lyons insensible, irresponsible attitude were caused by their father’s indifferent attitude towards them.…

    • 1768 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    Oedipus ascended the throne of Thebes; as to many years ago he had solved the riddle of the Sphinx, saved the city of Thebes and was welcomed as King. We see that this quality makes him an excellent ruler who anticipates his subjects’ needs. Taking up the responsibility of being a king by serving the citizens, Oedipus is adequate to the challenge, believing he can purge the land. Oedipus the King is a character that tempts fate, thinks he can change fate as a man who…

    • 714 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Born with a prophecy claiming he would one day kill his father and marry his mother, King Oedipus is immediately set up for failure. However, this does by no means make him an incompetent ruler. Quite the opposite in fact. Oedipus proves to be a man renowned for his intellect which is exemplified when he solves the riddle of the sphinx, a supernatural mythological being who held the city of Thebes captive. Furthermore, his is a man of swift action and great insight. This is perhaps best represented with his response to the priest’s complaint, he responds adeptly, “But I have not been idle; one thing I have already done – The only thing that promised hope. My kinsman Creon… has been sent to the Pythian house of Apollo.” Oedipus is indeed one that is faithful and compassionate to his people, this is further exemplified as he orders Creon to…

    • 961 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    August Wilson's Fences is a play about life, and an extended metaphor Wilson uses to show the crumbling relationships between Troy and Cory and Troy and Rose. Troy Maxson represents the dreams of black America in a majorly white world, a world where these dreams were not possible because of the racism and attitudes that prevailed. Troy Maxson is representative of many blacks and their "attitudes and behavior...within the social flux of the late fifties, in their individual and collective struggles to hew a niche for themselves in the rocky social terrain of postwar America" (Pereria, 37). Much of the tension in the play comes from Troy Maxson, and his inability to change, his, "refusal to accept the fact that social conditions are changing for the black man" (Pereria, 37). Troy's wife, Rose, recognizes this early on, saying to him, "Times have changed from when you was young, Troy. People change. The world's changing around you and you can't even see it" (Wilson, 40).…

    • 1968 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    As a result of his uncertainty and lack of knowledge, Oedipus’s actions become brazen and unjust. Showing his lack of knowledge of all the facts, he accuses Teirisias and Creon of conspiring to dethrone him, even though they are innocent. Creon tells Oedipus, “If you think that stubbornness without sense is a good gift you are not wise” (126). Here, Creon points out Oedipus’s rash judgment and persistence, yet Oedipus continues to be stubborn. Oedipus’s refusal to stop and admit that he is wrong exemplifies his hubris and contributes to his…

    • 691 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Creon soon arrives with a message from the oracle and asks Oedipus whether or not he wants to hear the message in private. Oedipus tells him that he would like all of Thebes to hear. Creon goes on to explain to all of Thebes what he had heard. He says that the god Apollo spoke through the oracle, saying that Laius, the man who was king of Thebes before Oedipus, was murdered. He then states that the murderer is in Thebes and must be driven out in order for the plague to come to an end.…

    • 967 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Living a life as a sovereign ruler is not always the peaceful, golden roads of glory one would think. In the tragic play of “Oedipus the King”, Oedipus completes a dreadful and long journey in which his respected and well-known position in the Greek city of Thebes crumbles because of his tragic flaw of ambition and hubris. The claws of the past are at the throat of the king and the audience begins to feel pity for Oedipus when his renowned name tragically falls down from grace.…

    • 669 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    In the plays Oedipus the King and Antigone Sophocles portrays two characters, Oedipus and Creon, as rulers of Thebes. After the murder of Laius, former King of Thebes, Oedipus became leader when he successfully solved the riddle of the Sphinx. Some time later, Creon became King of Thebes as the result of his nephews deaths. "Oedipus is a good ruler in spite of his defects. Creon is a bad ruler in spite of his virtues." This essay will discuss Oedipus and Creon as rulers of Thebes.…

    • 1104 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Better Essays

    King Oedipus Questions

    • 2212 Words
    • 9 Pages

    1. Oedipus characterizes himself by in line 7 of scene 1, Oedipus says, "I Oedipus, a name that all men know."(known afar) This shows he has much pride for himself. He feels he is very important, and that no one is above him. He knows the people need his help, and he feels prideful that they would need him. The people view him as their saviour. They are relieved to have him there to help them, and they almost worship him for his help. But as for Oedipus his attitude towards the suppliants is good, he anticipates his subjects needs and is always one step ahead of them.…

    • 2212 Words
    • 9 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    During Oedipus’s life, he tried to live a life dedicated to his family and his people. He stood by his fellow Thebans and tried to always listen and do what’s in the best interest for them. However, living a life trying to do what’s right is never easy when you are destined to commit heinous crimes. Oedipus finds out during his search that he is the killer in which he is in search of. After learning of this news, Oedipus finally starts to see the big…

    • 667 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    Throughout a piece of literature, the reader learns the theme of the writing by the many elements put forth by the author. The title, the characters, and their conflicts can set the overall theme of the writing. The play Fences by August Wilson has multiple themes but one that stands out is the theme of a person’s journey to overcome struggle. The theme can be interpreted by the reader through its main character Troy. Troy grew up in a different world than we live in today. A world filled with segregation and hate. Throughout Troy’s life, he overcomes many challenges but still everyday tries to push towards a better life. Although Troy lives in a world where he feels he does not belong, he gains a much better understanding of why Rose wants…

    • 1141 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    Oedipus Creon Quotes

    • 444 Words
    • 2 Pages

    In the play OEDIPUS THE KING BY SOPHOCLES, Oedipus is almost dependent on his brother in-law and fellow ruler Creon. “O King Apollo! May Creon bring us good fortune and rescue, bright as the expression I see on his face” (SOPHOCLES 8). This quote demonstrates the truth that Oedipus is mostly dependent on Creon. He sends Creon to seek answer from the God Apollo, to find answers to the death of the city Thebes. Oedipus’s reliance on Creon for answers emphasizes both his blindness, impotence, and lack of strength that a king should pose. Oedipus lacks self-reliance and serves as a character who suffers a terrible faith. “Is that what you say? I charge you now to carry out the articles of the proclamation you made. From now on do not presume to speak to me or to any of these people. You are the murderer; you are the unholy defilement of this land” (SOPHOCLES 21). This quote emphasizes on the idea that no matter how much Oedipus kept the secret from others, he was destined to live and suffer the outcomes of his fate.…

    • 444 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    As the play continues, Oedipus sends Creon to Delphi to speak with Apollo. As the news is read out, the people of Thebes do not yet know that Oedipus is the perpetrator. The people are simply coming to the darkness in search of light. The only way to bring light is to expel the darkness that lurks in their land.…

    • 366 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Better Essays

    August Wilsons “Fences” is based on a man that goes by Troy Maxson who feels confined by segregation. He is angry with the oppression he has had to face, after…

    • 1255 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Better Essays