Fences is a play by August Wilson that was first perfromed in 1985. The sixth of his ten-part “Pittsburgh cycle,” the play examines the aftermaths of slavery and discrimination of Black people in America, the cycle of damaged Black manhood, and the choice between pragmatism and illusion. Explore key facts about the play, the full summary, and important quotes

Summary

Read one-minute Sparklet summaries, the detailed scene-by-scene Summary & Analysis, or the Full Book Summary of Fences.

Characters

See a complete list of the characters in Fences and in-depth analyses of Troy Maxson, Rose Maxson, and Gabriel Maxson.

Literary Devices

Here's where you'll find analysis of the major themes, motifs, and symbols in Fences.

Essays

Learn more about Fences by reading these mini-essays and suggested essay topics.

Further Study

Go further in your study of Fences with background information about August Wilson and the play, as well as suggestions for further reading.