Alan Nadel argues that the object of the fence in August Wilson's play, "Fences", symbolizes a great struggle between literal and figurative definitions of humanity and blackness. The author summarizes the play and uses the character of Troy to explain the characterization of black abilities, such as Troy's talents in baseball, as "metaphorical", which does not allow Troy to play in the white leagues since the period is fixed during segregation (Nadel 92). ). The author attempts to use the characters in the play as examples of black people during the years of segregation to show how people of that era viewed black people not as literal entities but rather as figurative caricatures. Stating that these individuals were considered to be in a sort of void between the human and the object. Nadel's thesis is easy to spot and is actually underlined directly on page 88 of the text. It says that August Wilson's play actually examines the position of black people as a metaphorical "barrier" between humanity and property, arguing that the effects of this situation interact within the "context of [America ] white”, so that a larger number of people are affected. able to visualize the internal struggles of the black community. Nadel's entire article highlights a topic that is not easy for many authors to use without creating caricatures or exaggerated images of a stereotype. On first reading, the content is a little confusing and somewhat intimidating. However, after another reading, the text is easier to grasp. Nadel's article would have been much stronger if he had taken the time to mention characters other than Troy. Adding more information about Rose's character in this article provided insight into the topic of fencing, for which Nadel...... middle of paper ...... in character in "Fences" , struggles to be a father who has nothing to do other than follow the harsh example set by his own father, which resembles a symbolic barrier separating the relationship between father and son. There is also Troy's son, Cory, a boy who grows into a man and comes of age under Troy's sovereignty. The play shows that no matter how old you are, you constantly measure yourself against the example set by your parents. Even though the reader's family looks nothing like the Maxsons, one can eventually connect to this fundamental human struggle. Works Cited Nadel, Alan, “May All Your Fences Have Gates”: Essays On The Drama Of August Wilson. ): 151-153. British Library Document Supply Centre: Serials and Conference Proceedings Web.. 2015.