sept.24 fences

Prompt: Now that we have finished reading

Fences and you are completing your final project, reflect on your overall understanding of the play.

Which character, conflict, or theme has stood out to you the most, and why? Explain how your project represents what you learned about the play.

Response

The theme of "generational trauma" stood out to me the most. It’s clear that Troy’s harshness toward Cory isn't just him being mean; it’s him projecting his own failed dreams and the trauma of his own upbringing onto his son. My project represents this by using a timeline that connects Troy’s past experiences with his present-day actions, showing how he essentially repeats the cycle of pain he tried so hard to escape.

Summary

*Fences* is a deep look at how the past dictates the future. The play shows that when people don't process their own disappointments, they end up building emotional walls—or "fences"—that keep their loved ones at a distance. My project illustrates this cycle, highlighting how Troy’s inability to let go of his past prevents him from being the father and husband his family needs.

Reflection

Reflecting on the play, I’ve learned that you can’t protect people by controlling them. Troy thought he was "protecting" Cory from the same disappointment he faced, but he was actually just stifling him. This project helped me realize that understanding where someone is coming from—their history and their fears—is the only way to break those cycles. It’s a reminder that if we don't learn from the mistakes of the people who came before us, we’re destined to keep building the same fences.