fences

This was not one of my favorite plays of the semester, but I nevertheless enjoyed it. It is interesting to look back at the plays we have read, and examine how the family is treated in each play. Here, similar to Death of a Salesman, the father is very principled and steadfast in his beliefs. He disagrees with his son Corey frequently about what he should do with his life, in the same way that Willy Loman disagrees with his son Biff. You also have the element of unfaithfulness in the father, Troy, coupled with the devotion and caring nature of the mother, Rose, as you had in Death of a Salesman.
 My favorite character in the play was Gabe. I found him to be the most intelligent, given the fact that he foreshadowed Troy's death. I also appreciated the character of Lyons. Lyons for me was the playwright showing the audience that one can make a living following one's dreams. Troy wants Corey to get a job, thinking that it is more important for Corey to make money and provide himself with financial security. Corey, however, wants to follow his dreams and go play football. Not finding this practical, Troy does not sign his papers. However, Lyons is someone who has followed his dream of becoming a musician, and he is able to make a living. Despite having to ask Troy for loans, he pays all of his loans back, and in the end he has set himself up to be married and start a family.
All in all, I thought the play was good. I felt a lot of pity for Rose and Corey, both of whom had to live under the "shadow" of Troy, as Corey puts it. Troy was a complex and dominating figure, and one whose tragic ending seemed to have been brought about by himself.