Symbols
The Garden:
All throughout the play, the Maxson's backyard represented a place of relief and peace for Troy. However, he also had emotions bottled inside of him as a result of situations that leading to escape into the yard. With time, Troy would've overcome those negative memories, but he was too impatient. On the day of Troy's death, Raynell, Troy's daughter, plants a garden in the backyard. The day after planting it, she went out to see if anything had grown. Rose said to her, "You just have to give it a chance. It'll grow" (2.5.91). The garden is a representation of new life and growth for Raynell as well as the rest of the family. In the face of Troy's death, a new gateway for opportunity and growth is provided through Raynell's garden.
Ironically, the same day Raynell checks on the garden, Cory expresses that he has been living in the shadows of Troy all his life. Cory says to Rose, "Papa was like a shadow that followed you everywhere...hiding under the bed...in the closet...I've got to find a way to get rid of that shadow, Mama" (2.5.97). For Cory, the garden represents growth from under Troy's shadows. It represents his development as a man as well.
Baseball:
Baseball plays a very critical role in the development of Fences. As a young man, Troy was robbed of a successful baseball career due to his race. He carried the load around with him for the rest of his life, even to the point of not allowing his son to pursue a career in sports. Troy's bat represents the hardship, struggles, and injustices he experienced. Troy, who battled with death throughout the entire play, taunts death by saying, "It's between you and me now...Come on...I be ready for you" (2.4.89). Toward the end of the novel Rose says to Cory, "He was out there swinging that bat...and then he just fell over" (2.5.96). Troy died using the only weapon he could truly rely on. His death was a symbol of his lifetime battle and fight to overcome adversity.
The baseball bat also becomes important in the scene where Troy fights Cory in the backyard. Using the bat as a weapon, both Troy and Cory battle over whether Cory should be allowed to pursue football as a career. When Cory grabs the bat, Troy says to him, "You wanna draw that bat back on me...You're gonna have to use it!" (2.4.88). Troy winning their fight is a representation of his experiences trumping Cory's experiences. Because he had gone through more than Cory had, Troy knew how to use the bat better than Cory did.
The Fence:
The fence is one of the major symbols in this play because it not only represents the boundary of the Maxson's home, but also Troy's loyalty. Troy neglected putting the fence up for years, and this was because he was afraid of being "caged in". When Troy is supposed to be working on the fence, he is actually visiting Alberta, the women he cheats on Rose with. The Fence also represents the boundary of connection to the Maxson family. After their fight, Cory says to Troy, "Tell Mama I'll be back to get my things" (2.4.89). Troy responds by saying, "They'll be on the other side of that fence" (2.4.89). Here, the fence is the dividing line between being under the protection of the family and being independent. By putting Cory's belongings on the other side of that fence, Troy forces Cory to leave their home permanently.
The Garden:
All throughout the play, the Maxson's backyard represented a place of relief and peace for Troy. However, he also had emotions bottled inside of him as a result of situations that leading to escape into the yard. With time, Troy would've overcome those negative memories, but he was too impatient. On the day of Troy's death, Raynell, Troy's daughter, plants a garden in the backyard. The day after planting it, she went out to see if anything had grown. Rose said to her, "You just have to give it a chance. It'll grow" (2.5.91). The garden is a representation of new life and growth for Raynell as well as the rest of the family. In the face of Troy's death, a new gateway for opportunity and growth is provided through Raynell's garden.
Ironically, the same day Raynell checks on the garden, Cory expresses that he has been living in the shadows of Troy all his life. Cory says to Rose, "Papa was like a shadow that followed you everywhere...hiding under the bed...in the closet...I've got to find a way to get rid of that shadow, Mama" (2.5.97). For Cory, the garden represents growth from under Troy's shadows. It represents his development as a man as well.
Baseball:
Baseball plays a very critical role in the development of Fences. As a young man, Troy was robbed of a successful baseball career due to his race. He carried the load around with him for the rest of his life, even to the point of not allowing his son to pursue a career in sports. Troy's bat represents the hardship, struggles, and injustices he experienced. Troy, who battled with death throughout the entire play, taunts death by saying, "It's between you and me now...Come on...I be ready for you" (2.4.89). Toward the end of the novel Rose says to Cory, "He was out there swinging that bat...and then he just fell over" (2.5.96). Troy died using the only weapon he could truly rely on. His death was a symbol of his lifetime battle and fight to overcome adversity.
The baseball bat also becomes important in the scene where Troy fights Cory in the backyard. Using the bat as a weapon, both Troy and Cory battle over whether Cory should be allowed to pursue football as a career. When Cory grabs the bat, Troy says to him, "You wanna draw that bat back on me...You're gonna have to use it!" (2.4.88). Troy winning their fight is a representation of his experiences trumping Cory's experiences. Because he had gone through more than Cory had, Troy knew how to use the bat better than Cory did.
The Fence:
The fence is one of the major symbols in this play because it not only represents the boundary of the Maxson's home, but also Troy's loyalty. Troy neglected putting the fence up for years, and this was because he was afraid of being "caged in". When Troy is supposed to be working on the fence, he is actually visiting Alberta, the women he cheats on Rose with. The Fence also represents the boundary of connection to the Maxson family. After their fight, Cory says to Troy, "Tell Mama I'll be back to get my things" (2.4.89). Troy responds by saying, "They'll be on the other side of that fence" (2.4.89). Here, the fence is the dividing line between being under the protection of the family and being independent. By putting Cory's belongings on the other side of that fence, Troy forces Cory to leave their home permanently.
Kolloen, Seth. "Seattle Rep's." The Sunbreak. N.p.. Web. 2 Dec 2012. .