August Wilson’s play, FENCES tells the story of Troy Maxson’s struggle to succeed in the America of the 1950s and 60s. Troy Maxson is a very talented African–American baseball and football player who does not get the opportunity to play in the Major League because of the racial discrimination that prevailed in American society at that time. Troy ends up working as a garbage collector with his friend Jim Bono. As colored sanitation workers in Mr. Rand’s company, Troy and Bono did not have the opportunity to drive the garbage truck.They, like all African American were always consigned to working at the back of the truck; carrying the garbage from white people’s homes. One day, Troy registers his utter disgust at the discriminatory practice in the company. Mr. Rand refers Troy’s case to the commissioner’s office. After a careful consideration, the commissioner gives the green light to Troy’s request, and Mr. Rand promotes Troy from garbage collector to become a truck driver.

Before he comes to Pittsburgh, Troy works with his father on Mr. Lubin’s farm in the state of Alabama. Troy’s father cared more for the money he received from Mr. Lubin than he did about his wife and children. After he catches Troy with Mr. Joe Canewell’s daughter, Troy’s father beats Troy with the aim of grabbing the girl for himself. When Troy returns to challenge his father, he gets a very severe beating, which leaves him unconscious by a week. Troy regains consciousness, after one of his father’s dogs, Blue licks his face. When he regains consciousness, Troy runs away from home and walks for two hundred miles to get to Pittsburgh. A life of crime becomes Troy’s strategy for survival. He goes around robbing people of their belongings until he gets jailed for fifteen years for stabbing one of his victims to death. It is in prison that Troy realizes his potential to play baseball and football. Troy also meets and become friends with Bono while in prison.

Friday nights Troy’s house are usually times Troy spends drinking and chatting. Lyons, a son of Troy from his previous marriage, comes to see him for a loan of ten dollars. Troy tells Lyons of his unwillingness to part with ten dollars ($10). But after much pleading by Rose and Lyons, Troy grants Lyons request. Troy advises Lyons to find a real job for himself instead of relying on his wife, Bonnie. Because of Troy’s inability to attain success in sports, and he does not like the fact that his son, Cory has taken up playing baseball and American football at school. He tells Cory to quit sports and focus on his chores at home and studies at school. Troy does not want his son to encounter the same or similar disappointment he faced as an African American player. However, Bono and Rose try to get Troy to appreciate the fact that racial relations have improved considerably in the post second world war American society. They tell Troy to allow Cory to play because African Americans have access to better opportunities compared to the pre-World War era. Later in the play, Troy goes to Cory’s school and refuses to sign a consent for his son to play in the school team.

Whenever Gabriel, Troy’s brother, comes to Troy’s house, Rose treats him very well; she cooks for him and ensures that he is well-taken care of. Gabriel is a veteran of the Second World War. He suffered a blast which affected his head very badly, leaving him mentally unsound. He goes around with a trumpet because he believes very well that he is Archangel Gabriel. Once, Gabriel gets arrested by the police for disturbing the peace. Troy pays fifty dollars ($50) to get Gabriel released to him.

In Act two, Scene one, Troy informs Rose about his extra-marital relationship with Alberta. He tells Rose that Alberta is pregnant with his child. Rose does not take this information kindly at all. She makes Troy to know of her gross disappointment in his action. In fact, Troy’s adultery puts a massive strain on his relationship with Rose. He loses the respect of both Cory and Rose. At the time of delivery, Alberta dies while giving birth to her daughter, Raynell. After Raynell’s birth, Troy takes her to Rose to bring her up. At the end of the play, Troy dies. Gabe, Lyons, Bono, Rose, Raynell, and Cory all attend Troy’s funeral. However, this does not happen without Rose convincing Cory to forgive his father for any wrongs done against him. Eventually Cory, now a US Marine decides to attend Troy’s funeral. Before they all move to Troy’s funeral, Gabriel blows his trumpet for St Peter to open the gates of heaven for Troy to go in. Even though the sound of the trumpet does not come out properly, Gabriel sees his duty done.

Learners, we have ended the plot summary of FENCES by August Wilson which is a WASSCE Text for 2021–2025 in the category of African Drama.