Divisions created by constructed fences Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get Original EssayBy definition, the structure of a fence is said to be a barrier that controls access or prevents escape from a specific area. In August Wilson's Fences, this definition indicates much broader boundaries established within each character's interpersonal relationships. The idea of ​​fences under construction defines most of the central conflicts within the work from a metaphorical point of view. The extremely unhealthy social fences that Troy Maxson's character forms between his family and friends will eventually drive them all apart, leaving him the sole object of isolation. The only literal fence in the story is the one that Troy's wife, Rose, wants him to build around their yard. . Troy is very committed to building the fence, much like his lack of commitment to his wife and marriage. Instead of working on this project he goes out and cheats on his wife. The intentional barrier built by this relationship is explained by Troy with: “…She gives me a different idea…a different understanding of myself. I can get out of this house and get away from the pressures and problems… be a different man” (Wilson 1316). He sees his affair as an escape, when in reality it only solidifies the divide between him and his wife. Ironically, the very idea of ​​building the backyard fence can be seen as Rose's attempt to keep her family together. Troy's friend Bono, who is initially the only person who knows about the matter, tries to explain it to Troy who doesn't understand: "Some people build fences to keep people out... and other people build fences to keep people in. people. Rose wants to hold on to you all. She loves you” (1312). The fence in the courtyard is seen as a finished project only after Troy's lover dies in childbirth with his daughter Raynell about who Troy is as a person because he only decides to commit to this simple task for his wife when other options are off the table. The affair was a hold he had on himself, completely excluding him from the family obligations he was supposed to be committed to always. At this point, his wife wants nothing more to do with him from a marital position. Rose communicates that she will help raise the child but that, as a result of his actions, he is now "a man without a woman" (1321). ). Troy has conflicting relationships with his sons, Lyons and Cory, throughout the play. The reasoning behind each dynamic is different but both are unhealthy and turbulent because of Troy. The eldest son, Lyons, from a previous marriage, can be seen on the surface as a business transaction relationship. The only time they interact is on payday, when Lyons comes to borrow money from his father. There is negative tension between the two regarding this loan routine because Lyons is a musician and Troy thinks he should get a decent job. Offering to find him a job at his job hauling trash, Lyons tells his father, “I don't want to haul anyone's trash. I don't want to push anyone's watch” (1292). This upsets Troy because obviously hauling trash wasn't his ideal career either, but he has to make money somehow, so he says to Lyons, “Where do you think that ten dollars you're talking about came from? I suppose you carry people's garbage and give you my money because you're too lazy to work” (1292). Troy blames his son's lack of work ethicto the way his mother must have raised him. Lyons informs his once-absent father that, “If you wanted to change me, you should have been there when I was little” (1292). During Lyon's childhood, the prison yard fence prevented his father from being part of his life and this is the foundation of all their personal conflicts with each other. She has lost 30 years of her son's life to the barrier of prison and because of this their relationship is strained beyond repair. Troy's relationship with his younger son Cory is much more volatile than his relationship with Lyons. Cory is a high school football star, and the once-athletic Troy resents this. Troy had to give up on turning pro due to his age and racing at the top of his ability. This informs Troy of the bitterness he has chosen to take out on his son since birth, as he explains: “I decided 17 years ago that that boy would not be involved in any sports. Not after what they did to me in sports” (1302). Rose is a supporter of wanting to allow Cory to continue with his football aspirations and tries to explain to Troy, “Times have changed since you were young Troy. People change. The world changes around you and you can't even see it” (1303). The problem is that Troy doesn't want to see it. He says he doesn't want his son to go through what he went through, but ultimately he's jealous that Cory has these opportunities that he himself never had. As a result, he tries to control everything in Cory's life to try to keep him from becoming more than Troy ever could. After forcing Cory to leave the team, Cory begins reading lines regarding his father's behavior towards him and says, “'Just because you didn't stand a chance! You are only afraid that I will become better than you” (1311). This is the first blow to Troy after feeling this blow to his inflamed ego. This is a crucial moment because it signifies the further downward spiral of their relationship. A few months later, after the whole matter became public, the division between father and son is finally fixed after a physical altercation. After telling Cory to leave his house, some symbolic dialogue is exchanged. Cory tells his father, “Tell Mama I'll come back for my things,” and Troy responds coldly with, “They'll be on the other side of the fence” (1325). This not only symbolizes the wall built between them up to this point, but also the forever rift between them that follows. While Troy destroys his relationships with his family, he constantly has his friend Bono by his side. They met in prison and bonded over that experience. However, Bono is the first person to find out that Troy is having extramarital affairs and this causes a distance between the longtime friends. Bono expresses his concerns about Troy's questionable decisions while trying to enlighten him by saying, “I remember when you met Rose... That was the first time I realized you had some sense. I said... My friend Troy knows what he's doing... I'll follow this nigga... he might take me somewhere... I learned a lot about life from watching you... Rose, a good woman, Bitch” (1312-13). Bono, up to this point, has idealized Troy into a great guy, someone he admires and respects. All of this is essentially lost when Troy destroys his family, the main thing Bono based this respect towards him on. She stops coming to the house to visit Troy and the rare times she does their communication is brief and has clearly evolved from a best friendship to a simple acquaintance, if that. Troy points this out on one of the occasions and states, “You haven't been around here for a month of Sundays..