The Significance of Trains in Wilson's "Fences" Anonymous College

August Wilson’s “Fences,” a play published in 1985 but set in the 1950s, is one in a set of ten works by Wilson which all make an effort to examine the struggles of African Americans in different time periods. Wilson’s play is rife with symbolism, often contained within common, everyday objects, which aids in presenting Wilson’s arguments and developing the relationships between various characters. Though the titular symbol, the fence which Rose has been urging her husband Troy to build around their home, is most prevalent in the play, the appearance of trains in Act 2 Scene 3 provides an opportunity to examine Troy’s relationship with his family members, namely with his wife Rose and daughter Raynell. More specifically, this symbol constitutes strong evidence for a reading of Troy as being truly repentant for his misdeeds, and presents the possibility that he is also sincere in his desire to change and be committed to Rose.

While the fence is a symbol which is connected to all characters in the play, Troy’s references to trains provide insight into the intensely intimate scene which only Rose, Troy, and Troy’s new daughter share. Troy connects the image of trains to his difficult past, revealing to his newborn daughter that...