GABE: Hey, Rose. It's time. It's time to tell St. Peter to open the gates. Troy, you ready? You ready, Troy. I'm gonna tell St. Peter to open the gates. You get ready now. (Gabriel, with great fanfare, braces himself to blow. The trumpet is without a mouthpiece. He puts the end of it into his mouth and blows with great force, like a man who has been waiting some twenty-odd years for this single moment. No sound comes out of the trumpet. He braces himself and blows again with the same result. A third time he blows. There is a weight of impossible description that falls away and leaves him bare and exposed to a frightful realization. It is a trauma that a sane and normal mind would be unable to withstand. He begins to dance. A slow, strange dance, eerie and life-giving. A dance of atavistic signature and ritual. LYONS attempts to embrace him. GABRIEL pushes LYONS away. He begins to howl in what is an attempt at song, or perhaps a song turning back into itself in an attempt at speech. He finishes his dance and the gates of heaven stand open as wide as God's closet. )
That's the way that go!Based on your reading of this play, what might be the "weight of impossible description that falls away," and what might be the "frightful realization"?
How do the above choices, as well as the author's particular images, symbols, choices of particular words help to enhance the overall conclusions made in this play?
How do the above choices, as well as the author's particular images, symbols, choices of particular words help to enhance the overall conclusions made in this play?
25 comments:
I think the author used this character to show that the idea of being sane can limit a person from understanding extraordinary things. The characters in this play underestimated Gabe, because they thought he was slow, when on the other hand, he understood everythingin this play than the rest of the characters. But I can't seem to figure how this contributes to the novel. Are we suppose to be disgudted with society for tagging individuals that behave differently from them as crazy and unsupportive?
In my opinion about the last conclusions about individuals in society dure to the novel "Fences", I think that Mr. Wilson uses characters to show that as an example of their ability to live in society is their denial to individuals. I mean as a result in their ability to do something in todays world, they believe in self-created illusions and the frightful realization of it is that people have to accept others choices in life when they differ from someones else own philosophy!!!
Thanks for the first two comments, Slyvania and Danielle. In response to Slyvania's comment: I don't think the focus of this play is on society's treatment of those who are different (as it IS the focus in Glass Menagerie). So Gabe's dance is there for other reasons. Let's begin by trying to figure out what burden leaves him, and WHAT IS the frightful realization he has. THAT's the big question that will lead to larger understandings.
And I agree with Danielle that this whole play clearly condemns our society, who denies its own people a place in it.
I think the "frightful realization" that a sane mind would be unable to withstand is what seperates Gabe from the rest of the characters in "Fences". Nevermind that he is seen as mentally unstable, he understands so much more than say, Troy or even Rose. At the end of the play, Gabe realizes the sad reality and state of the human spirit after society has their way with it, so to speak. If Gabe failed to behave rationally before, after Troy's death he is somehow freed of his brother's constant prejudice. Does Gabe feel sorry for his brother? Sure, why not?
I think the author uses Gabe to show that he was the only one in his right mind which is very frighting. For Gabe not to have a sane mind separates him from society and indiviuals, but the real realization is that he knew the truth all along. And that the dancing was to show the truth of what he was telling other's that thought he was crazy.
i think what gabe realizes is that troy will not be able to pass through the gates because of the sins he did.that society is punished.
i do agree that gabe knew better than rest of the family members. i dont agree that the play was about persons treated indifferently.
I think that the weight wold be societies prussure for individuals to conform to the way that they knoe life. the frightful realization is that we as humans once we get all caught up in society when we finally relize what we are doing is not the way its too late so we spend the rest of our life tring to change the mistakes that we made in the past. i agree much with Danielle Middleton when she talks about society and how they believe in self-created illusions and the frightful realization of it is that people have to accept others choices in life when they differ from someones else own philosophy!!!
i think the author used gabe to portray how he was limited or more prone to seeing what others cannot. it seems to be a sixth sense of how things work in life. that weight is the knowing that gabe had of actually seeing the gates open and the "frightful Realization" was thathe could not see the gate open or more that he had never really known this would happen to troy.
society seems to be condemning those for their sins. gabe realized that troy was not going in so easily and thats what frightened him.
I agree with what danielle middleton said, i want to add, that the frightful realization that was that i think Gabe wanted to tell Troy that he is free for a racist society that he lived in and to escape from his responsibilty. That is why i think Gave is trying to mean by the gates of heaven are opening.
So we have to acknowledge that the author writes that the gates of heaven DO open. Gabe seems to feel quite certain that Troy is going to heaven. If we assume that Gabe a truth teller, then we should also believe that Troy is going to heaven.
Therefore, the "frightful realization" cannot be that the gates of heaven aren't opening.
What, then, might that realization be?
Within the novel, "Fences," there is an apparent sign of higher power. This is shown through the character, Gabe. I feel that at the end of the play when Gabe has a weight of impossible descriptions that falls away is the Holy Spirit. The saying of falling away i interpreted as falling away from the gates of heaven and not away from Gabe. I feel the fretful realization would be Gabe understanding that Gabe must praise GOD and not only sound the trumphet in order for Troy to enter into heaven. I feel this way because he begins to dance which makes me think of the "holy ghost" and him having the holy spirit. Which causes a dance and praise towards GOD. I may have too much of a religious view upon the book, but that is what I feel about this final scene.
The above choices, as well as the author's particular images, symbols, choices of particular words help to enhance the overall conclusions made in this play by illustrating how individuals want teh best for their family, but their method of achieving success is not understood or accepted.
-RASHEED D. MERRELL
I am not sure about what it means that a weight of impossible description that falls away. I think it means Troy's death is fatal. Gabe tries to blow the trumpet but no sounds come out which indicates that Troy's death is something cannot avoid. I think the frightful realization is that Gabe's pain toward Troy's death. Everyone thinks Gabe is a senseless fool, but actually he feels sorry for Troy's death and knows more than the other characters.
I agree with Vania that Gabe understands more in this play than the others.
the realization may be that the gates are not as beautiful as imagined and that Troy is going through to judgment which is not one of the most beautiful places. the realization was that Gabe thought of the gates as more beautiful when in reality it may have been another place to challenge those that are entering.
I, personally, believe that the frightful realization is that Gabe is accepting Troy's death. Troy's death is inevitable which means that it cannot be avoided. What WIlso suggests about society in this play is that it condemns those who discriminate against individuals who are stuck in the past.
-Allen :D
I most definetely agree with Kevin on this one. Like, i said before Troys death is inevitable thus, enhancing the sympathy we feel towards individuals.
-Allen :D
I also believe that the frightful realization is of Troys' death. It is an inevitable factor of this book and cannot be changed.
-Jairo :D
Some people have great points, but I have to agree with Allen on this one because he is on the same path of thinking as me. Great Job though.
-Jairo :D
I think the "frightful realization" in the story fences is that Gabe was the only one aware of everything. He knew someday Troy was going to die due to society's oppression and racism. So, I agree with Simon about Troy's death been his escape from reality and society's pressure. I also agree with Antelma and how she said that the imagery of the gates opening can mean the challenge that Troy had to go through or overcome in order to go to heaven.
I think Gabe realizes Troy ascended to heaven and he knew it was coming he had "been waiting some twenty-odd years for this single moment." I think that the weight that falls away is that he is not going to see Troy suffer at the hands of society any longer. Its over, the pressure has ended. But the "frightful realization" is that Troy really is gone, and he isn't coming back. Or it could also be he realizes society is destructive and evil. And.....
That's the way that go!
I think that the frightful realization in this play is Gabe's understanding of Troy's death. Even though Gabe was portrayed as insane, he was the only one that knew all along what was going to happen and that is why he accepts Troy's death.
I agree with Allen because I also think that in this play, Wilson condemns a society that discriminates against individuals who are different and are stuck in their past.
Post a Comment