Troy, a middle aged black man, struggles with the racial and social barriers or "fences" he feels have kept him back his whole life. He has reached maturity in an age unwilling to acknowledge his success. And yet Troy is unwilling to acknowledge the reality of the life of those around him. He treats his oldest son Lyons, who is in his thirties, like a child. Every pay day when Lyons comes around asking for money Troy makes a big deal but then on cue hands over the money...it's as if Troy's sense of satisfaction comes from being needed by everyone for their very survival. When his younger son, Gabriel, has won a scholarship to play baseball at a university, Troy refuses to allow him to be interviewed by the coaches. He belligerently forces his son to give up any idea of playing ball and instead forces him to take a grocery clerk position that will ensure him a steady but low paying salary.
Finally after slowly destroying the relationships he has with those around him, the play ends in a Death of a Salesman type way, with his friends and family eulogizing his life..only Troy wasn't riding on a smile and a shoeshine...
No comments:
Post a Comment