Fences explores the evolving African-American experience and examines race relations. The play focuses on 53-year-old Troy Maxson, a once great professional baseball player in his youth who now lives a menial life as a head-of-household garbageman struggling to provide for his family.

 

His baseball dreams fizzled when he was sent to prison for an accidental murder he committed during a robbery. He lives with his wife, Rose, and son, Cory. Troy's war-injuried younger brother, Gabriel, from which he took disbaility money from to purchase his home, rents a room in the neighborhood, and son, Lyons lives outside the home.

 

The struggles of life beat at Troy through the years of constant disappointment and conflict resulting in a persistent bitterness Troy lives with and takes out on those closest to him until his death. The fence Troy begins to build for Rose becomes a metaphorical definition for what belongs to her and a parable of Troy's life upon its completion.