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What elements does Wilson employ to give the audience a sense that time has passed and characters have changed during the course of the play?

 

How does Fences fulfill Wilson's description of the style as a "blues aesthetic?"

 

Is Troy a tragic figure, a hero, a villain or a combination of these types? Is he a sympathetic character?

 

How does Wilson create the time period of the play with his language? Could the play take place in a different decade? Why or why not?

 

What is the play's attitude toward women? How might a female playwright tell the story of Fences differently than August Wilson? What themes or issues might be raised in a play about Black people in the 1950s that Wilson does not address? Do Rose and the women mentioned in the play typify roles of the 1950s or defy them? What attributes or actions of the female characters support your interpretation?

 

Some critics of August Wilson complain that "nothing happens" in his plays, meaning the plot is too subtle to be dramatic. Write a review of Fences arguing against this assertion and proving that it is a dramatic work. Back up your opinion with textual support.

 

Compare and contrast Arthur Miller's play Death of a Salesman with Fences. Compare and contrast the roles of fate vs. personal actions in the story of Willie Loman and Troy Maxson.

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