Poetry in 'Fences': Metaphors, Music and More

'Fences' (1987) is a play by August Wilson, who is well known for the plays that use best of poetry and music. Like in many of his plays, poetry and music are very significantly present in language of characters of this play 'Fences'; and they have made this play playful and amusing. In addition, the play involves many interesting metaphors, contributing to enrichment of meaning of the dialogues. Thus, it is language of poetry that has made 'Fences' richer for both understanding and pleasure. 

            We get to see metaphoric use of language from the very beginning of the play. Introducing 'Fences' to the readers, Wilson writes, "The city devoured them. They swelled its belly until it burst into a thousand furnaces and sewing machines, a thousand butcher shops and bakers' ovens, a thousand churches and hospitals and funeral parlors and money-lenders." This description is metaphoric because here the city is capable of "devouring" people. It means that the city killed the dreams of migrants for life, liberty and pursuit of happiness. 

The title 'Fences' itself is a strong metaphor. We get the term pronounced for the first time when Rose, wife of Troy in the beginning of Act I, Scene II sings the song, "Jesus, be a fence all around me every day." Later we come to know from Troy and Cory that it is Rose who desires for fences, and the father and the son are getting trouble to understand it.  From this fact, the readers know that it is not just a literal fence, but it stands for something beyond what we simply understand. Later Bono, Troy's life-long friend explains it, "Some people build fences to keep people out… and other people build fences to keep people in. Rose wants to hold on to you all. She loves you." The explanation at the same time clarifies the meaning of this recurrent metaphor and also throws light on one of its major themes – Rose's devotion to Troy and the family and her expectations in return.

Another metaphor that repeatedly occurs in the play is about Death. Troy addressed death as "Mr. Death". Troy says, "Death ain't nothing. I done seen him. Done wrassled with him… Death ain't nothing but a fastball on the outside corner." Later, he describes so poetically that the readers / audience actually imagine Mr. Death coming in front of Troy and they are wrestling. "…The Army of Death was marching straight to me…carrying the sickle in his hand… I reached down and grabbed that sickle and threw it just as far as I could throw it… We wrestled for three days and three nights." In all discussions about death, it is personified, and thus it is very poetic. This poetic quality in Troy is recognized by his wife Rose and his friend Bono. Rose says, "Every time Troy tell that story he find different ways to tell it." Bono too compares him with Uncle Remus, a Black storyteller who recounts traditional African American tales.

Discussion on death appears frequently in the play, and every time it is associated with something else metaphorically. In the second act of the second scene, after Alberta's death, Troy joins metaphor of fences and personification of death together. He says, "All right… Mr. Death… I'm gonna take and build a fence around this yard. See? I'm gonna build me a fence around what belongs to me. And then, I want you to stay on the other side. See? ... You stay on the other side of that fence until you ready for me." In this passage, Troy simultaneously expresses his fear of death and readiness to accept the death. In addition, it also hints the readers to anticipate how Troy's death will be.  

Metaphoric connection of life and death with sport elements can be seen also when Troy reveals to Rose his relation with Alberta. He says that he has "been born with two strikes on you before you come to the plate" and he had to guard them closely. These two strikes can be his black race and poor financial background.  

The metaphoric talk of death repeats in Troy's final struggle with Cory. Troy is drunk now, whereas Cory is brave and strong. They struggle for a bat, which Troy ultimately gets. This struggle for bat is not merely struggle for that trivial bat, but for something which are very important in one's life. For Troy it can be rules and orders, expectations and respects. For Cory, it can stand for independence and self-esteem. Anyway, this bat is a weapon that they use to wrestle against death, "the fastball."  Cory loses and he leaves the house. But, this struggle is not finished yet. It is that struggle which suggests the readers about death of Troy. He again realizes that death is a fastball, which he is going to face. He takes the bat and says (to Death), "Come on! It's between you and me now! ... I be ready for you…but I ain't gonna be easy." 

This struggle is again reminded after Troy's death. Rose while preparing his funeral briefs Cory and Lyons how he died, "… He was out here swinging the bat… He swung that bat and then he just fell over. Seem like he swung it and stood there with his grin on his face… and then he just fell over." Thus the bat represents Troy's struggle for life, struggle against 'the fastball' of death.

Poetic expression about death can also be found in dialogues of Gabriel, the World War-injured brother of Troy. He says metrically, "… I'm here today. And tomorrow I'll be gone." This "going" obviously represents death. He also repeatedly sings, "Better get ready for the judgment. My Lord is coming down… My God is coming down." He tells that he has seen the name of Troy in the book of St Peter. Book of St Peter is the book of death, "He got a great big book. Got everybody's name what was ever been born." And, thus this book has Rose's name too – but too later than Troy's. This also offers the readers some hint about possible death of Troy. Finally, in the last scene of the play, Gabriel says, "It's time to tell St. Peter to open the gates. Troy, you ready? I'm gonna tell St Peter to open the gates… That's the way that go!"

Like death, Troy also explains that he has seen and challenged the devil. With Bono and Lyons, he narrates a meeting with "devil" while asking for furniture on credit. But, this metaphor is easier to understand that devil is apparently referred to white people. "Open the door… devil standing there bigger than life. White fellow… got on good clothes and everything." Later, he reveals that the "devil" cheated him by giving the credit but taking ten dollars from him every month for fifteen years. In this way, the man made him paid ten times over.

Throughout the play, characters are rich in musical / poetic language. In the very first scene, Troy remembers his first contact to Rose with such poetic expression, "Hitch up my pony, saddle up my mare… there's a woman out there for me somewhere. I looked here. Looked there. Saw Rose and latched on to her."  Not only in happy moments, in pressured and serious times too, Troy is equally poetic. When his son Cory asks him whether he likes him, his answer is beautifully poetic. "A man got to take care of his family. You live in my house… sleep you behind on my bedclothes… fill you belly up with my food… cause you my son. You my flesh and blood. Not 'cause I like you. Cause it's my duty to take care of you." Similarly in discussion with Lyons and narrating his past, he uses short and catchy phrases as sentences very much like in poetry. "… Messed around there and went from bad to worse. Started stealing. First it was food… Met your mama. I was young and anxious to be a man. Met your mama and had you…"

Rose's language is also not less poetic and musical. As she knew that Troy sexually betrayed her, she beautifully evaluates herself- "I done tried everything a wife should be. Everything a wife could be."  This repetition of "everything" and "should / could" can produce rhythmic effects while reading. Like refrain in a poem, she repeats the single phrase "you ought to have stayed in my bed" condemning Troy's relationship with Alberta. Repetition of words as said always has special effects on sounds. In addition, in interpretation too they are not taken for granted.  Repeated phrase is given significance by the characters, thus they need to be scrutinized closely.  

Later Rose comes up with more metaphoric expression. She compares her devotion to Troy and the family with a seed and her existence with a flower. She says, "I took all my feelings, my wants and needs, my dreams… and I buried them inside you. I planted a seed and watched and prayed over it. I planted myself inside you and waited to bloom. And it didn't take me no eighteen years to find out the soil was hard and rocky and it wasn't never gonna bloom." Here, she also compares Troy as 'hard and rocky soil.'

In addition, there are many events when the characters sing songs apparently. Mainly we can find it in characters of Rose (singing about fences), Troy (singing about the dog Blue, and a lullaby to Raynell) and Gabriel (singing about judgment and St Peter). On the other hand, it is stated that Lyons, Troy's son from previous wife wants to be a musician. These too remind the readers and audience that music in this play has a significant place.  

August Wilson's writing is rooted in music including Blues in particular. He was also a good poet and interested in speech patterns and rhythms. Thus, he gives high values to sounds in his plays. And, 'Fences' is a perfect example.