Esparza 1

Nallely Esparza

AP English Literature

Period 1

March 19, 2017

Allusions in Fences

In Fenes, written by August Wilson, allusions are used in order to reference other

works and ideas that enrich the play with meaning and importance. Throughout the use of

allusions such as the Troys name, Gabriel, and baseball, Wilson is able to add depthness to

the play; the allusions connect the situation in the play to the person or event the allusion is

about.

At the beginning of the play, it is established that the main character's name is Troy.

The protagonists name already alludes to the Trojan War between the Greeks and the

Trojans. The Trojan War took place when the Greeks hid inside the horse that was presented

as a gift to the Trojans in order to infiltrate them and win the war through the inside. By

naming the protagonist Troy, Wilson is able to give him more life and a deeper meaning

without saying so. Through this name, Troy is depicted as someone who has internal problems

with himself that prevent him from reaching greatness as a father or husband. The city of Troy

was known to have an impenetrable border around its city, but unknowingly, it let the

intruders right in, which led to the Trojans ultimate defeat. This detail reflects Troys attitude

to life because his outer attitude seems to be strong and very macho-like; however, his failed

attempt to play in the major leagues of baseball have become his Trojan Horse. Troys past
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has become his own kryptonite that prevents him from being more understanding when it

comes to Cory and his wish to go to college in order to continue playing.

The play also makes many references to Gabriel, Troys younger brother who believes

that he is the archangel Gabriel after being injured in World War 2. In the play, Gabriels

character alludes to the Archangel Gabriel from The Bible. In the book of Luke, the

Archangel Gabriel serves as Gods messenger and lets Mary know that she will give birth to a

boy, whom she will name Jesus. Through this allusion, Wilson portrays Gabriel as a

messenger who speaks the truth and foreshadows what is to come. This allusion enhances the

meaning of Fences because through Gabriel the reader or the audience is able to know what is

to come for each character.

In the play, Gabriel claims that he died, went to Heaven, and ate biscuits with St.

Peter. Gabriel tell Troy that he saw Troys name in St. Peters book along with Roses name,

but in a different way. In the Bible, it is said that St. Peter hold the keys and guards the doors

to heaven along with the book of all the names of those who can enter. This reference enriches

Fences because if Troys name is in the book it alludes to Troys salvation when the

Judgement Day comes. This shows that Troy is doing something write. However, when

Gabriel says that Troys name was different than Roses name, it hints at the possibility that

he may not be spared on his day of Judgement. By including St.Peter and Judgement Day,

Wilson shows us how he wants us to feel towards the characters actions. If Roses name is in

the book, then the reader should see her with compassionate, while the reader should see Troy

with eyes of discontent because his name is written differently from the others.
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The Maxsons last name also enhances the play because it is in reference to the

Mason-Dixon line, which divided the states that were free in the North and the slave states in

the South. This allusion helps the play because it focuses on the racism and inequality that

African-Americans still faced during the mid 1900s. In the beginning of the play, a man is

willing to look like a thief instead of being associated with the stereotype that

African-Americans like watermelons and everything else that came with being of a darker

pigmentation of skin.

Most of Troys failure was because he was unable to play baseball in the Major

League Baseball. The allusion and reference to baseball throughout the entire play is what

drives the entire play to be what it is. Troy makes strong remarks about the greatest baseball

players in American History, and this shows how good Troy was in baseball or how high

Troys ego was. Either way, Troys discontent with his past endeavors is what caused him to

disapprove of Cory and his football playing. By comparing Troy to Babe Ruth and Josh

Gibson, stating that Troy was better than George Selkirk, and asserting that Troy knew many

guys that were better than Jackie Robinson, Wilson highlights the unfair system that was

available to colored people during the mid 1900s.

Through these allusions, August Wilson is able to add depthness into the play and

make it more meaningful without explicitly saying so.

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Work Cited

SparkNotes Editors. SparkNote on Fences. SparkNotes.com. SparkNotes LLC. n.d..

Web. 16 Mar. 2017.

"Trojan War." History.com. A&E Television Networks, 2009. Web. 17 Mar. 2017.

Wilson, August. Fences. A Play (in Two Acts). New York: New American Library, 1986.

Print.