73 pages 2 hours read

August Wilson

Fences

Fiction | Play | Adult | Published in 1986

A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more. For select classroom titles, we also provide Teaching Guides with discussion and quiz questions to prompt student engagement.

Act IChapter Summaries & Analyses

Act I, Scene 1 Summary

The play takes place on the porch and in the yard in front of the Maxson home in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Act I opens on a Friday night in 1957. Troy Maxson, who is a large, 53-year-old African-American man, enters with his friend Jim Bono, who is also Black. Troy and Bono have been friends for 30 years. They are still dressed in their work clothing for their jobs as garbage collectors. Friday is payday, and every week the two men sit together to drink and talk. Troy has caused a stir at work by asking why the Black men are only allowed to load garbage into the truck while the White men drive. Their supervisor, Mr. Rand, told Troy to take his issue to the union. Troy went to the union and filed a complaint, and someone from the union was seen speaking to Mr. Rand. Now, Troy has been summoned to the commissioner’s office next Friday. Troy insists that he is not worried about losing his job. Bono and Troy talk about a woman named Alberta, whom all the men are flirting with. Troy bought her a couple of drinks but insists that he hasn’t chased women since he married his wife,

Related Titles

By August Wilson

SuperSummary Logo
Study Guide
August Wilson
Guide cover image
SuperSummary Logo
Study Guide
August Wilson
Guide cover image
SuperSummary Logo
Study Guide
August Wilson
Guide cover image
SuperSummary Logo
STUDY + TEACHING GUIDE
August Wilson
Guide cover image
SuperSummary Logo
Study Guide
August Wilson
Guide cover image
SuperSummary Logo
Study Guide
August Wilson
Guide cover image
SuperSummary Logo
STUDY + TEACHING GUIDE
August Wilson
Guide cover image
SuperSummary Logo
Study Guide
August Wilson
Guide cover image