Running Head: Fences Play ✓ Solved

Running Head Fences Play

FENCES PLAY 3 Fences Play Student’s Name Student’s Affiliation Troy’s funeral is the last scene of the play that brings to conclusion so many aspects of the play. Throughout the whole play, the lives of many characters revolve around Troy. His family lives by the dictations he makes whether they are right or not. This scene stands out because it is the part of the play that shows the reunion of a family that had been broken by the stubborn nature of Troy whereby during the funeral, we see Cory coming back after having been away from home for almost 8 years. At the same time, Gabe who had been sent off to a mental hospital by his brother Troy also comes back to attend the funeral. This is an important scene that not only marks a big change in the lives of the characters but also a big change in the lives of people in America.

From the setting of the funeral, the funeral took place in the year 1965, a time when there had been a lot of changes on issues of race in the 8 years that had passed. The death of Troy was a mark of the big change that most people, especially the colored people, had waited on for so long. An estimation of Troy’s age reveals that he was part of the generation that led the migration to the north; a migration that was responsible for the many changes that were to be experienced later. The funeral signified the end of an era of injustice and the beginning of a new time. In the book, it was an end to a life where a son had to live away from home and a wife, Rose, had to live a life of having to give up her desires just to support her stubborn and unfaithful husband.

In steering a new beginning for people, the funeral brought home Cory who had never even met Lyons, his sister. At first, Cory never wanted to attend the funeral because he was still in pain after what his father had done to him ‘… drag Papa with me everywhere I go. I’ve got to say no to him. ’ Cory and his sister Lyons had never met and practically knew anything about each other all thanks to Troy. The two then bonded over a song that their father taught them. The singing of the blues that Troy taught his children at the funeral is a mark of sin and redemption. Blues were a type of African-American songs that mostly spoke of the troubles of this race.

In the case of Troy, they showed his sin, which was Alberta, and his only redemption, his wife Rose, whom he had chosen to ignore. Singing the song at the funeral was not only a bonding moment but a true definition of the legacy of Troy. Despite the fact that he had put his family through a lot of pain, he had at least managed to leave his children with a common legacy. Cory realized that despite all his father’s failures, he had loved him as a son and had only wanted Cory to be better than him ‘… Your daddy wanted you to be everything he wasn’t ….’ Troy left something behind that would forever make Cory and his sisters one. Gabriel’s arrival at the burial is a sign of redemption for Troy.

Earlier on in the play, Gabriel had told Troy that his name had been written in his book in heaven. Gabriel tries to blow his trumpet but he does not succeed, and this makes him very sad. The whole essence of playing the trumpet was so that the heaven gates would open and usher Troy into heaven. Gabriel had been cast aside for so long and considered unimportant, but then, in the end, he turns out to be the one person that will save Troy’s soul from eternal damnation. Other than being the unexpected redeemer, Gabriel is a sign that family bonds run deep; that even though it was his brother who signed the papers that sent him to an asylum, he still loved him that he came for his final send-off.

Most of the other characters did not want to have anything to do with Troy because of all the bad memories that he had left, but Gabriel saw the fallen Troy as his brother. He wished him the best in the afterlife through playing trumpet and performing the dance ritual so that he could be accepted in heaven… gonna tell St. Peter to open the gates.’ In deed, the death of Troy, a man who had impacted the lives of so many, was of great significance to all. His death ushered in a new era of siblings getting to finally meet, lost brothers and sons coming back home amongst other changes. We may not always see the death of people as a good thing, but maybe it is needed so as to give room for change.

In the “Story of an Hour” by Kate Chopin, two major themes that relate to the plot are gender and freedom. Mrs. Mallard’s life represents gender inequality within her society. Also, her life represents freedom given and freedom being taken away. Essentially, this short story initiated changes that brought about feminine empowerment.

Mrs. Mallard faces issues of gender inequality. The society in which she lives expects that she will react to her husband’s death mildly. However, Chopin says, “She did not hear the story as many women have heard the same with a paralyzed inability to accept its significance” (p.2). The way she interprets her husband’s death, weeping quickly indicates that she does not follow the standard form of grieving which is expected of her gender.

Sample Paper For Above instruction

Kate Chopin’s “The Story of an Hour” offers a profound exploration of the themes of gender roles, marriage, and personal freedom within the context of late 19th-century society. The story, concise yet powerful, provides a critical commentary on the oppression faced by women in a patriarchal society and the possibility of liberation through self-awareness and independence. This essay examines how the themes of gender and freedom are intricately woven into the narrative, reflecting both societal constraints and individual desires for autonomy.

At its core, “The Story of an Hour” depicts Mrs. Mallard’s emotional journey upon hearing the news of her husband's death. Initially, she reacts with shock and grief, which align with societal expectations of a wife mourning her spouse. However, as she retreats into her room and contemplates her future, a complex transformation occurs. Chopin writes, “She looked out the window at the open square in which the trees were withering in the rain,” symbolizing her recognition of newfound freedom. The imagery of the open sky and the withering trees metaphorically suggests the shedding of societal constraints and the dawn of personal liberation. Mrs. Mallard's internal realization that she is now free from her husband's control underscores the pervasive societal doctrine that marriage circumscribes women's autonomy.

The theme of gender inequality is vividly illustrated through Mrs. Mallard's clandestine relief from her marriage. Her feelings of exhilaration at the prospect of life without her husband challenge traditional notions of wifely submission. Chopin emphasizes this by describing her as experiencing an “emerging sense of self,” which was unthinkable within the confines of her societal role. The story critiques the oppressive nature of marriage during that era, where women’s identities were often subsumed under their husbands’. Mrs. Mallard's fleeting sense of independence highlights the repressive societal structures that limit women’s agency.

Furthermore, the story explores the tension between societal expectations and personal desires for freedom. Mrs. Mallard’s brief moment of joy signifies a longing for self-determination which is often suppressed by societal norms. Her eventual death, following the reappearance of her husband and the shock that he is alive, can be interpreted as symbolic of the destructive nature of repressive societal values that deny women their individuality and autonomy. The story’s open-ended conclusion leaves readers contemplating whether true liberation is ever attainable within the constraints of societal expectations.

Chopin’s narrative technique employs symbolism and concise language effectively to evoke empathy and critical reflection. The symbolism of the heart, which ‘fails’ at the story’s climax, underscores the emotional toll of suppressed desires. The brevity of the story accentuates the intensity of Mrs. Mallard’s internal conflict and the societal implications of her brief taste of freedom. These literary devices serve to underscore the overarching themes and provoke thought regarding the societal constraints imposed on women and the innate human desire for liberty.

In conclusion, “The Story of an Hour” is a compelling critique of gender inequality and an affirmation of the human craving for freedom. Through the protagonist’s transformative experience, Chopin illuminates the oppressive realities faced by women in her society and hints at the possibility of personal emancipation. The story remains relevant today, resonating with ongoing struggles for gender equality and individual rights. Its enduring power lies in its succinct yet profound portrayal of the human spirit’s resilience against societal oppression.

References

• Chopin, K. (1894). The story of an hour. Vogue.
• Gordon, L. (2001). Feminism and the politics of reading. University of Illinois Press.
• Gisesti, S. (2010). Literature and gender voices. Routledge.
• Benton, K. (2019). The portrayal of women in 19th-century American literature. Cambridge University Press.
• Showalter, E. (1985). A literature of their own: Essays on women writers. Princeton University Press.