Wilson's Fences (is The Recurring Theme Dependant On Racism)

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Theater critic Robert Brustein has criticized Wilson’s play Fences on the grounds that, “his recurrent theme is the familiar American charge of victimization.” Brustein argues, ”Wilson’s larger purpose depends on his conviction that Troy’s potential was stunted not by his own behavior but by centuries of racism.” Robert Brustein’s analysis is correct and Wilson’s play is primarily a social critique that dramatizes the effects of racism. The recurrent theme of Fences is based on racism, and Wilson’s larger purpose is to get his audience to find sympathy for a character facing a no-win scenario that has been created by centuries of racist oppression.
The recurrent theme in Fences is that a black American has two choices in how to live his life. The choices are to live responsibly but have no hope for happiness, or to seek happiness while ignoring your responsibilities. There is no third option, for a black person, where they can take care of their responsibilities and pursue happiness. The reason that blacks are denied this third option is because they been victimized by centuries of racist oppression. This theme is demonstrated in the conversation between the characters Troy and Cory when they are discussing the possibility of purchasing a television. Troy says, “Two hundred and sixty-four dollars . . . cash money. While you thinking about a TV, I got to be thinking about the roof . . . and whatever else go wrong here. Now if you had two hundred dollars, what would you do . . . fix the roof or buy a TV.”(Wilson 1764) Cory suggests the option of buying a TV and somehow being able to fix the roof, “I’d buy a TV. Then when the roof started to leak . . . when it needed fixing . . . I’d fix it.” (Wilson1764) Troy tells Cory that it is not possible to pursue both, “Where you gonna get the money from? You done spent it for a TV. You gonna sit up and watch the water run all over your brand new T...