Characters
The protagonist of the play who works as a sanitation worker and once played in the Negro Leagues.
Who is Troy Maxson?
Troy uses this sport as his primary metaphor for life, death, and his struggles with his son.
What is baseball?
The city in which the Maxson family lives.
What is Pittsburgh?
"How come you ain't never liked me?"
Who is Cory?
The decade in which the majority of the play's action takes place.
What are the 1950s?
This character wants a fence built around the yard to keep her loved ones close and protected.
Who is Rose Maxson?
This character, whom Troy claims to have wrestled with for three days and nights, represents Death.
Who is the Devil?
The specific promotion Troy receives at work after complaining about racial discrimination in the sanitation department.
What is becoming a driver?
"I done gave you eighteen years of my life to stand in the same spot with you. Don’t you think I ever wanted other things?"
Who is Rose?
The "deal" Bono makes: he will buy his wife a refrigerator if Troy does this.
What is finish the fence?
Troy’s brother who carries a trumpet and believes he is the Archangel Gabriel.
Who is Gabriel Maxson?
According to Bono, some people build these to keep people out, and others build them to keep people in.
What are fences?
The sport Cory is being recruited for by a college scout, much to Troy's disapproval.
What is football?
"Death ain't nothing but a fastball on the outside corner."
Who is Troy?
Troy's specific reason for why he couldn't play in the Major Leagues (other than the color barrier).
What is his age? (He was too old by the time the leagues integrated).
Troy’s oldest son, a jazz musician who frequently asks his father for ten dollars on Fridays.
Who is Lyons?
Troy refers to this place as his "college," where he actually learned to play baseball and met Bono.
What is prison?
The woman with whom Troy has an affair, who ultimately dies during childbirth.
Who is Alberta?
"I don't want him to be like me! I want him to move as far away from me as he can get!"
Who is Troy?
The name of the person Troy signs papers for to be committed to a mental hospital so he can keep half the check.
Who is Gabriel?
Troy's alibi when he goes to see his "other" woman
Who is the Taylor's
Gabriel often carries this fruit, which he claims he has for sale or is waiting to eat with St. Peter.
What are plums?
The amount of money Troy used from Gabriel’s government disability check to buy the Maxson house.
What is $3,000?
"Some people build fences to keep people out… and other people build fences to keep people in."
What is Bono
After Troy confesses his affair, Rose tells him he is "womanless," but she agrees to do this for the baby.
What is raise the child as her own?