Blog 7 Fences

August Wilson named the play Fences because it revolves around not only physical fences but also the “fences” in the character’s lives. There are many different ways that fences are used symbolically, such as symbolizing protection, structure or division. Each character has their own set of fences. Troy has the most fences surrounding him throughout the play. Rose, Cory and Lyons each have a fence the lies between them and Troy.

            The amount of fences that Troy has made is ridiculous. He has been building a fence for  Rose for a really long time. Cory says, “He been saying that the last four or five Saturdays, and then he don’t never do nothing,” (1.3.3-4). This suggests that Rose had been asking him for quite some time to build a fence. It is later seen that his lack of effort and commitment on the fence can parallel his lack of effort and commitment with his marriage. Troy says, “I can sit up in her house and laugh… I can laugh out loud … and it feels good.” (2.1.100-101). When comparing the building of the fence to his marriage he finds it too much of a pain at times and wants to relax a little.

            Rose is a different character in that the fences that surround her can be viewed in a more positive light. The first fence that surrounds Rose is Jesus. “[sings.] Jesus, be a fence all around me every day. Jesus, I want you to protect me,” (1.2.pg 1710). Jesus is the fence put in place to protect Rose. This fence makes her special in that the fence she has around her is for protection. Rose also asks Troy to build a fence showing she wanted that same protection surrounding her family. Bono tells Troy, “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.” (2.1.28-29). Rose had such a strong mama bear mentality in regards to her family.

            Two really evident fences in the story are between Troy and his two sons. The fence that separates Troy and Lyons is Lyon’s desire to pursue music. Troy says, “You too lazy to work,” (1.1.136), as well as saying, “I don’t like that Chinese Music. All that noise.” (4.1.82). Showing that Troy feels that Lyons needs to stop fawning over music and go get a “real” job. The fence between Troy and his son Cory is huge. This fence is the fact that Cory wants to play football but his dad wants him to work. “The white man ain’t gonna let you get nowhere with the football noway.” (1.3.74-75). Troy’s severe view of white people in sports continually comes between him and Cory. He feels that he should give up and get a job since he will fail anyways.  The fences between Troy and his sons are separating them from each other.

            The way that August Wilson used fences throughout the play was quite intriguing. Each fence helped get a better understanding of each character. The fences added great amounts of depth to each person in the play so that their actions made more sense.

Blog 6 Hamlet

Claudius is like most people when he truly desires to have something no matter what. He was not purely evil, but he was not just merely a flawed person. To say he was purely evil would mean that there would be not a single ounce or hint of good. Also, to say that someone is not a flawed person is saying that they are perfect and above everyone else. Claudius was a flawed person, but he was more than just flawed. It is also possible to call the story “The Tragedy of Claudius, King of Denmark”, but that puts too much focus on Claudius.

Claudius was an evil man, but like most evil men he was not purely evil. “Thanks, dear my lord. O my offence is rank, it smells to heaven, It hath the primal eldest curse upon’t, a brother’s murder. Pray can I not, through inclination be as sharp as will” (3.3.35-39). This shows that there was a certain amount of regret for what it did. He was praying as hard and with the same determination that he did when he killed his brother. He was praying with fear because he wanted to still go to heaven so he was trying to cleanse himself of his crimes.

            On the opposite side, Claudius was not merely a flawed individual. Typically, “merely” flawed people share flaws with other people that are things that must be constantly battled to overcome. An example of this is when Claudius finds out that Hamlet killed Polonius. Claudius said, “O heavy deed! … Alas, how shall this bloody deed be answered? It will be laid to us, whose providence should have kept short, restrained, and out, of haunt” (4.2.13, 16-18). This shows that Claudius was more concerned about himself than Hamlet’s mental state. He was more concerned that he might get blamed for Hamlet’s deeds. This is not exactly the way the “merely” flawed people think through situations involving family.

If the title of this play had been changed to “The Tragedy of Claudius, King of Denmark”, it would indicate a greater focus on what the king goes through. While the king plays a huge role in the play, he does not deal with the same struggles Hamlet goes through.  While talking with the queen Hamlet said, “You are the queen, your husband’s brother’s wife, and would it were not so, you are my mother” (3.4.14-16). Hamlet essentially summarized what has caused all his suffering and hardship. Claudius was the cause of Hamlet’s suffering. Naming the play “The Tragedy of Claudius” would indicate that Claudius is the victim rather than the starting point of all the suffering. 

Blog 5 Hamlet

            In William Shakespeare’s Hamlet, Hamlet faces many struggles that accompanied his return to Denmark. He had to deal with the death of his father, which is difficult for anybody. Hamlet also had to deal with the burden that comes with finding out that your father did not just die but was murdered. Furthermore, he had to deal with the irregular way his mother behaved after the death of her husband and king. All of these events and more cause his mental state to deteriorate. 

Hamlet’s initial response to his father’s death was like anyone who lost a parent, he was sad and upset. Not only did his father die but his uncle took the throne and married his mother. Hamlet said, “A little more than kin, and less than kind” (1.2.67). Showing that Hamlet really did not like that his uncle was now king and his stepfather. Hamlet was also upset because his uncle took the throne from him after his father passed.

Hamlet already had a certain amount of hate for is uncle, but one thing solidified his hatred. Hamlet learned that his father was murdered. “The serpent that did sting thy father’s life now wears his crown” (1.5.39-40). So not only did his father die but he was murdered by his uncle. “Ay, that incestuous, that adulterate beast, with witchcraft of his wit, with traitorous gifts”(1.5.42-3).  So after learning that his father was killed over the throne Hamlet becomes really angry. “O all you host of heaven! O earth! What else? And shall I couple hell? And thy commandment all alone shall I live within the book and volume of my brain,” (1.5.92-3). Hamlet is saying that he is going to kill his uncle for what he has done. His decision to murder his uncle is all for the love he had for his father. This is evident when he says, “And what so poor a man as Hamlet is, may do t’ express his love and friending to you god willing shall not lack”(1.5.184-6). Hamlet most likely felt the best way to show that his love for his father was not lacking was to avenge him.

Anger and a sense of disbelief came up out of Hamlet when he saw his mother’s behavior. “O God, a beast that wants discourse of reason would have mourned longer – married with my uncle,” (1.2.150-1). Hamlet was furious that his mother hardly mourned the death of her husband, but instead went and married her husband’s brother. “She married. O most wicked speed, to post with such dexterity to incestuous sheets” (1.2.156-7). This incestuous act also saddened Hamlet, “It is not, nor it cannot come to good, but break my heart, for I must hold my tongue” (1.2.158-9). As much as he was angry with his mother he was also saddened with the fact that she did this and that he really could not say anything about it.

The mental state of Hamlet started in a bad place after only knowing his father died but gets worse as he learns more. “How weary, stale, flat, and unprofitable seem to me all the uses of this world” (1.2.133-4). Hamlet felt there was nothing worth living for after his father’s death. He then felt that the only purpose to live now would be to avenge his father and kill his uncle. “Prompted to revenge by heaven and hell” (2.2.559). Hamlet felt horrible that he was now just the son of a murdered father aiming for revenge. His mind was in a state of I am weak but I have to do this no matter what.