August Wilson Rhetorical Devices

August Wilson published Fences in the year 1985 to present "a slice of life in a black tenement in Pittsburgh in the 1950s" (Jacobus, 1466). Wilson was able to accomplish his goal of writing a script that deals with time, place and action unity, as well as family. This was done through many script revisions and honing upon "the all-American game" known as baseball (Jacobus, 1495). Baseball is a reoccurring subject throughout Fences. Troy uses baseball in metaphorical instances in order to challenge individuals including Cory and Death. Troy Maxson makes it clear in this quotation how each person, specifically Cory, is standing in the batter 's box. It is up to the individual to not strike out in life. The coincidence is, is that as Troy tells Cory not to strike out, but it is actually Troy standing in the batter 's box since he is the one taking from all, and not listening to anybody. Troy 's first strike out occurs with Gabriel. This action happened offstage before the present moment of the play. Troy is suffering through a cognitive dissonance as he attempts to rationalize his actions of stealing his brother 's money in order to purchase a home. Troy is continually complaining about how all anyone wants is money. He mentions how he at one point was a thief robbing people in order to endure the street life during his younger years. Troy even accuses his family of only wanting him for his money, especially when Lyons visits. Furthermore, Troy mentions how unfair the government or society treats Gabriel after having had his brains blown out in the war. The two ideas cannot coincide. Troy insists bad people are the ones who beg for money and take advantage of vulnerable individuals such as his brother. However, he becomes the crook who reaches for money by stealing it away from Gabriel. Not only that, but Troy who initially wishes for his brother to remain free eventually signs him into a hospital. He turns into a hypocrite. Strike one. The second of Troy 's strikes occurs when he admits his affair to Rose. The beginning of Troy 's confession to Rose about his affair starts strong. Troy states, "Rose…got something to tell you" (Wilson, 1486). Troy goes to Rose to tell her the truth, he does not run away in order to try to keep juggling his secret. Unfortunately, Troy "takes" again by …show more content…
Troy first began the play describing how he wanted Cory to have a life better than his own. However, Rose mentions, “Your daddy wanted you to be everything he wasn’t…and at the same time he tried to make you into everything he was (Wilson 1494). It is interesting to note Wilson did support Troy’s decision in preventing Cory from joining sports because African Americans who did receive “‘sports scholarships to go to school were exploited’” (Jacobus, 1495). However, Wilson’s support of Troy does not excuse his behavior towards Cory. Cory is subject to an authoritarian father figure who claims he does not love his son, but rather sees him as a duty to pay attention too. Therefore, Troy expects Cory’s respect. Unfortunately, Troy’s demand for respect did not meet the ideal qualifications for respect. For example, to gain respect one must first respect. Cory runs away from Troy to find his own path, just as Troy ran away from his own devil father. Strike