Fences

       

      Baseball acts as an important motif in the story, fences, on the other hand, serve as an important symbol in the play and assume various meanings as they relate to the different characters. Only one actual fence exists in the play, the fence that Rose has Troy fixed. This literal presence of the fence and the versatile nature of the meaning of fences are perhaps the reason why the play is titled. “Fences” relate to Troy in the sense that it reflects his relationship with the rest of the family broken and in disarray. Throughout the play, Troy expresses reluctance in finishing the task just as he exhibits inefficiency in dealing with the other family members. Apart from being unfaithful to Rose, Troy is also inconsiderate of his son and negligent towards his brother. Rose in contrast sees the fence as something positive. She is the primary advocate for the fence’s completion and this preoccupation is explained by Bono as “Some people build fences to keep people out and other people build fences to keep people in. Rose wants to hold on to you all. She loves you” (2.1.32). It may even be said that the fence represents Jesus for Rose since it is her constant prayer that “Jesus, be a fence all around me every day” (1.2.2). In the end, Jesus does separate her from others by keeping her safe, strong, and optimistic.The fence also acts as a symbol for the barrier between Troy and Cory. Cory’s desire to play football infuriates Troy as he wants his son seek proper employment instead of play. This alienates Cory and the father and son have a falling out. The fence also separates Troy and Lyons because Troy believes that his son’s pursuit of a career in music is worthless like Cory’s desire to play football. Finally, I believe that fences have a definition that is dual in nature. Whereas it can keep together the things that must stay together such as family and protect these things, it also prevents others from achieving their dreams. Perhaps the most important of the examples of how some things are represented by a fence in the play is Troy’s failure to enter the Major League. Troy’s disillusioned state and the many conflicts portrayed in the play are all inherently connected to his failure. Like tall fence the racial issues of the time have prevented Troy from achieving his dream. He may see the policy as a barrier against the fulfillment of his career and thus symbolically resents fences by being reluctant in his chore.

Pure Evil

              Claudius commits many horrible acts; he is not purely evil and is better understood as a flawed human being. Claudius is guilty of many sins, including the murder of the king and plotting for the Hamlet's death when he realizes that the Prince knows the truth. What concerns Claudius' character, Hamlet learns that he managed to obstruct his life,knows his right to the throne, humiliate the memory of his father by marrying his mother so soon after, and for all these reasons, enrage the young Prince and appear to be truly evil at the same time:” He that hath kill'd my king and whored my mother, Popp'd in between the election and my hopes…And with such cozenage—is't not perfect conscience, To quit him with this arm”. Claudius is not purely evil but is simply an example of a very flawed human being who allows his greed and selfish desires to control his actions. The King is however also a reasonable man, capable ruler, and competent diplomat, as is exemplified in Act 1.2 when he disposes of court business. The King reveals also during fleeting moments in the play that he is aware of his bad conscience and actions. This is for instance clear when he compares his 'deed to [his] painted word' (3.1.49-54). It is also clear from his attempt to pray in Act 3.3. Though he is not able to repent and continues in plotting and scheming, the attempt to redeem himself and his acknowledgement of the evil. It would be however a fallacy to “The Tragedy of Claudius, King of Denmark”. This is because Claudius does not have any redeeming qualities to justify his sins. Whereas Hamlet seeks, plots, and desires to kill throughout the play in what some might describe as an evil way, his actions are inspired by his desire for revenge. Even-though it’s not the  right  motive, it docent  make Hamlet understandable and tragic in a human way many can sympathize with. This is not true for Claudius.

seeking revenge

When Hamlete returns to Denmark he is encounter with many problems he finds out his father is death and that his mother married her uncle.  His emotions are triggered his mother and uncle try to make him feel better they tell him he needs to move on theirs nothing he could do about his fathers death " no, nor the fruitful river in the eye, nor the dejected haviour of the visage together with all forms moods shapes of grief that can denote me truly" ( 70-89, 1,2). this statement from hamlet shows how sad and grieving he is for his father. Hamlet was told that theirs a ghost that looks like his father but he does not believe them until he sees him. " I am thy father's spirit" (10, 1,5).   His father starts to explain the reason for his death was because his uncle poisoned him.  Hamlet sees the reason why he married his mother so he can become king " upon my secure hour thy uncle stole with juice of cursed hebona in vail and in the porches of my ears did pour ( 61-63,1,5) this is stating that his uncle will be the next in line to become king. his father wants him to kill his uncle but he delays it because he knows that killing is a sin.