Reflection on Fences By August Wilson

Men

Throughout the plays we have read in class, there have been significant male roles. The first being Willy Loman, the second being Torvald Helmer, and the last being Troy Maxson. Torvald is often the odd one out when comparing and contrasting these characters, as he is not equally incorporated into family life. While Troy and Willy both have huge impacts on their children and their lives. However, the biggest comparison that can be drawn between all three is their relationships with their wives. They all mistreated and betrayed their wives. Both Willy and Troy cheated on their wives, all three tried to control them. For example, Willy  wouldn’t let Linda do whatever she wanted, and Torvald completely controlled most everything in Nora’s life. Troy would try to control

Women

Linda, Nora, and Rose are the wives of the men in the plays we have read. All of them are very strong women, who are still suppressed in one way or another. They all become free of it in the end. Linda’s husband died, freeing her from his lying and depressed grasp; Rose’s husband Troy also died, but he still left her with a child not her own. Nora left her husband of her own accord, but in turn put herself in a terrible socioeconomic position. All of their husbands had been suppressing them, whether it be monetary control, lying, or cheating. 

The definition of independence is not depending on another for livelihood or subsistence. Nora was the most independent of them all, going off from her husband to lead her own life on her own money. However, in the more vernacular definition “free from outside control; not depending on another's authority.” Rose is the most independent of the wives. While she depends on Troy for income, she controls the output of the money in the family, and on what and when it is spent. She also refuses to take Troy’s crap. She tells him she will care for his bastard child, but will not be his woman. She is however his wife, but only in the eyes of the state and government, and the way he should treat her.