I, Too
I, too, sing America.
I am the darker brother.
They send me to eat in the kitchen
When company comes,
But I laugh,
And eat well,
And grow strong.
Tomorrow,I'll be at the table
When company comes.
Nobody'll dareSay to me,
"Eat in the kitchen,"
Then.Besides,
They'll see how beautiful I am
And be ashamed--
I, too, am America.
Langston Hughes
Dream Deferred
What happens to a dream deferred?
Does it dry upLike a raisin in the sun?
Or fester like a sore--And then run?
Does it stink like rotten meat?
Or crust and sugar over--like a syrupy sweet?
Maybe it just sagslike a heavy load.
Or does it explode?
Langston Hughes
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Themes:
The Devil:
At the beginning of the play Troy tells Cory and Bono about his battles with the devil. In Act 1, Scene 1, Troy gives an exaggerated tales of his elongated scuffle with the death. Troy describes the death as if he were a white KKK member saying, “Death stood up, throwed on his robe...had him a white robe with a hood on it” (pg. 1650). Sometimes the devil represents racism and injustice in America. Troy believes that he is undefeated because he wins all of his fights. This includes the case he files against the Sanitation Department resulting in him being the first black man to drive a truck in on his job. Because this occurs in the setting of the story the reader is aware early on that Troy has an extensive imagination and that he is capable of creating unbelievable stories. Although later in the tales prove to represent Troy struggle with lives obstacles, the initial story Troy tells throws off the reader and Troy’s family and friends.
Fences:
Wilson names this play Fences for more reasons than the fact that throughout the play Troy works on the Maxsons’ fence. In the backyard of the Maxson’s home many relationships come to bloom and doom here. Throughout the play Wilson inserts many innuendos to fences. For example, at the beginning of Act 1, Scene 2 Rose sings the old church hymn, “Jesus be a fence all around me everyday...” (pg.1655). This represents the fact that Rose wants to be protected and she wants safety for her family and herself. When Bono complains about building the fence to his best friend, Bono he answers him saying, “Some people build fences to keep people out...and other people build fences to keep in. Rose wants to hold on to you all. She loves you.” (pg. 1679). Bono says this because he is afraid that Troy’s affair with the local vixen, Alberta could end up as a tragic ending to Troy and Rose’s marriage. He wants Troy to know that Rose’s desire for a fence is symbolic of her desire for her family to stay together. The Fence also symbolizes Troy belief that he has the power to control deaths fate. When Troy dies and family is subsequently reunited his theory is proven to be wrong.
At the beginning of the play Troy tells Cory and Bono about his battles with the devil. In Act 1, Scene 1, Troy gives an exaggerated tales of his elongated scuffle with the death. Troy describes the death as if he were a white KKK member saying, “Death stood up, throwed on his robe...had him a white robe with a hood on it” (pg. 1650). Sometimes the devil represents racism and injustice in America. Troy believes that he is undefeated because he wins all of his fights. This includes the case he files against the Sanitation Department resulting in him being the first black man to drive a truck in on his job. Because this occurs in the setting of the story the reader is aware early on that Troy has an extensive imagination and that he is capable of creating unbelievable stories. Although later in the tales prove to represent Troy struggle with lives obstacles, the initial story Troy tells throws off the reader and Troy’s family and friends.
Fences:
Wilson names this play Fences for more reasons than the fact that throughout the play Troy works on the Maxsons’ fence. In the backyard of the Maxson’s home many relationships come to bloom and doom here. Throughout the play Wilson inserts many innuendos to fences. For example, at the beginning of Act 1, Scene 2 Rose sings the old church hymn, “Jesus be a fence all around me everyday...” (pg.1655). This represents the fact that Rose wants to be protected and she wants safety for her family and herself. When Bono complains about building the fence to his best friend, Bono he answers him saying, “Some people build fences to keep people out...and other people build fences to keep in. Rose wants to hold on to you all. She loves you.” (pg. 1679). Bono says this because he is afraid that Troy’s affair with the local vixen, Alberta could end up as a tragic ending to Troy and Rose’s marriage. He wants Troy to know that Rose’s desire for a fence is symbolic of her desire for her family to stay together. The Fence also symbolizes Troy belief that he has the power to control deaths fate. When Troy dies and family is subsequently reunited his theory is proven to be wrong.
Analysis of Troy Maxson: The Ironic Protagonist
Troy is a hardworking man. He has a strong work ethic and is determined to instill this same work ethic in his children. He constantly reminds his children of his role as the family’s breadwinner every time they mention a career that he believes is not legitimate such as a football player. For example, in Act 1, Scene 3 Cory asks Troy why he doesn’t like him. Troy defends himself saying, “Don’t you eat everyday...Got a roof over your head...Clothes on your back...Why you think that is” (pg. 1665). This is only one example that displays Troy’s belief that his job stands as his refuge of self-worth. Throughout the play many other examples can also be found.
As a husband Troy obviously loves his wife, Rose. However, he is very sexist in his way of treating her. Troy acts like Rose is beneath him just because she is a woman. For example, in Act 1, Scene 1 while Troy and Bono are conversing on the porch, Troy asks Rose what she is making for dinner. When Rose joins them on the porch to answer Troy after she is finish talking Troy says, “Well, go on back in the house and let me and Bono finish what we was talking about. This is men talk” (pg. 1645).
As Gabriel’s brother Troy holds a great deal of self-guilt but he is not bothered enough to cease the flow of his veteran’s brother’s money. Throughout the play Gabriel constantly asks Troy if he is mad at him. Every time Gabriel appears on stage Troy’s entire demeanor becomes indifferent to what’s going on around him. As a result, Gabriel believes that Troy is purposely acting this way out of anger.
Troy is great friends with Bono for two main reasons: as a drinking companion and someone to talk to about his demons (His affair with Alberta, his days in the Negro Leagues, their job at the Sanitation Department...etc). Troy initially met Bono when he was in jail. Because of this he knows that Bono is not one that holds judgment. Troy holds much of his trust in Bono and is always delighted to have someone to listen to his long and sometimes exaggerated stories. Bono is also the only character in the play that was there in the glory days of Troy’s Negro League career.
Wilson portrays Troy as a man worthy of respect and admiration because his intentions are well-meaning. He has overcome many trials in his life and is a father that may not be perfect but nevertheless is still there for his boys. In Wilson’s personal life he never had a fatherly experience. As a result he is sending a message to the reader that it is better to have a father there that is less than perfect than having a “rolling stone” for a father.
As a husband Troy obviously loves his wife, Rose. However, he is very sexist in his way of treating her. Troy acts like Rose is beneath him just because she is a woman. For example, in Act 1, Scene 1 while Troy and Bono are conversing on the porch, Troy asks Rose what she is making for dinner. When Rose joins them on the porch to answer Troy after she is finish talking Troy says, “Well, go on back in the house and let me and Bono finish what we was talking about. This is men talk” (pg. 1645).
As Gabriel’s brother Troy holds a great deal of self-guilt but he is not bothered enough to cease the flow of his veteran’s brother’s money. Throughout the play Gabriel constantly asks Troy if he is mad at him. Every time Gabriel appears on stage Troy’s entire demeanor becomes indifferent to what’s going on around him. As a result, Gabriel believes that Troy is purposely acting this way out of anger.
Troy is great friends with Bono for two main reasons: as a drinking companion and someone to talk to about his demons (His affair with Alberta, his days in the Negro Leagues, their job at the Sanitation Department...etc). Troy initially met Bono when he was in jail. Because of this he knows that Bono is not one that holds judgment. Troy holds much of his trust in Bono and is always delighted to have someone to listen to his long and sometimes exaggerated stories. Bono is also the only character in the play that was there in the glory days of Troy’s Negro League career.
Wilson portrays Troy as a man worthy of respect and admiration because his intentions are well-meaning. He has overcome many trials in his life and is a father that may not be perfect but nevertheless is still there for his boys. In Wilson’s personal life he never had a fatherly experience. As a result he is sending a message to the reader that it is better to have a father there that is less than perfect than having a “rolling stone” for a father.
Connecting the Preface to the American Dream
In the preface Wilson discusses his view of the strive for the American Dream for Whites versus the struggle for the American Dream by Blacks during the late 1950's. Wilson is angry at the difference in how European immigrants who voluntarily came to this country, were treated, and how African immigrants who were forced to come here were treated. In the preface, Wilson opens the play with his thoughts on this issue. He speaks about how the Great Migration left many southern rooted Blacks with the same or less than what they had before they migrated north. He spoke of how in 1957, Blacks only had one dream, which was to be treated as equally as whites were and to be exposed to the same opportunities that they were. He spoke of the suffering that many Blacks faced once they moved to a region of the country that they thought had an open mind. In the last paragraph of the preface Wilson gives the reader a recap of what was happening economically and socially in the baseball arena in 1957.
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