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In the play, Fences by August Wilson, the author uses symbols, among other literary devices, to further develop the theme of the story. The use of repeatedly writing about the fence, showed how this family had constant metaphorical fences built around them to protect and shield from what they have suffered in the past. Troy is the authoritative figure who has created a protection wall to shield his son from his past mistakes. Also, Troy has lived through racist times and hopes to protect Cory from the horrors and disappointment he had to go through. Troy’s constant strict orders to his son were made out of fear and hope for a better future for Cory, which is true for every parent caring for their child. In this manner Wilson portrays one of his themes of protection, loyalty, and the importance of hopes and dreams in a family. Consequently, the fence also demonstrated the restrictions the family faced with race and how it impedes them from achieving greater goals. Race was a big barrier during Troy's life and when his son seemed to be going down the same path, his father knew the restrictions. During that time period race was still a big issue in America and Wilson's use of symbols captures the limitations of African Americans. He used Aunt Jemima to make an allusion to plantation life, and the inability to achieve the American Dream through baseball. Through the criticisms, we can see the extent to which African Americans were overlooked, and Wilson states that Blacks were the leftovers to a historical stew. The stew consists of the whites and the Blacks, and only a bit of the stew was consumed, and the leftovers symbolize the colored people who didn't help in changing or making history. Overall, by using symbols to convey the message of the story, Fences was able to accurately portray central themes of duty, hopes, race, and family.

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Aunt Jemima was a woman who depicted a slave from the Old South Plantation and was originally a chubbier woman who wore a headband, handkerchief around her neck, and had a speaking blurb with broken, grammatically incorrect sentences. Of all individuals, Gabriel eats breakfast with Aunt Jemima showing how African Americans will always be associated with their ancestry and seen as slaves and it's symbolic of poverty due to racism. They're seated with those of their kind... impoverished slaves. They can't rise above their ancestors.

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Gabriel's character is foreshadowing Troy's death and how Troy will need redemption to be revived when the Lord returns to the Earth to take those who have accepted Him. On page 209, Gabriel talks about how he's seen Troy's name in St. Peter's book of judgement and how we "Better get ready for the judgement...my Lord is coming down..."

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Since Troy's an African American in the 1950's, he's facing first hand, the effects of social inequality to those of color. Especially Blacks and since he couldn't be a major league baseball player because of his color, he had to succumb to the limitations of society and become a garbage man. Due to racism and social inequality, he faces financial difficulties trying to provide for his family and this becomes apparent on page 206, when he's arguing with his wife about being responsible with money. "Troy: You ain't do nothing but throwing your money away.
Rose: Troy, you know I don't play foolishly. I just play a nickel here and a nickel there..."

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Rose- From the perspective of Rose, the fence symbolizes her nurturing and protective personality when it comes to facing the troubles of the world. The fence signifies the loving barriers of the fence and how it keeps her family inside, together, and protected from the racist society. This explains why Rose is always asking her husband to complete setting up the fence. On both page 206 and 208, Rose says something about building the fence, or asking Jesus to be a fence for her family.
Troy- However, Troy sees the fence as a restraint from achieving things in the real world. It symbolizes the restriction of race and how it always stops him from reaching his full potential. It's a symbol of racism's restraints and limitations to those of color. This explains why Troy's always brushing off his wife's request for him to complete the fence.

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-Gabriel: The trope of Gabriel blowing a trumpet blast to indicate the Lord's return to Earth is especially familiar in Black spirituals. The second coming of the Lord to revive the dead. He is known as the messenger angel of the Lord
-Jesus is a protective barrier in regards to avoiding racism. He is also a symbol of redemption and He's the way to enter into heaven. He forgives all from their sins and gives people the strength to make it through testing times. Rose asks him for strength and protection during the times of social inequality and racism.
-St. Peter stands at the gateway to heaven and looks into the book of judgement to see if the individual waiting to enter is permitted to enter into heaven. He holds the book of judgement. "Peter looks up the deceased's name in a book, before opening the gate." according to some sects of christianity.

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Act I Scene II opens up with Rose singing to Jesus and how she wants protection for her and her family. Rose and Troy carry out a casual conversation but go into detail about how Troy was called down to the Commissioner's office thinking he would be fired. Troy seemed to be bothered by many things,  he was worried that his family would not have enough money to continue living a certain way, especially if he got fired from his job. Troy is the working man and Gabriel hasn't worked a day in his life. The symbols and the allusions in this scene bring the scene to life. They contribute to the different elements of the story such as, Gabriel believes that he is the Archangel Gabriel and carries around a trumpet and a chipped basket of assorted fruits. Gabriel kept warning Troy that Troy's name was in St. Peter's  book for the judgment. He also said that he had direct contact with St. Peter and knows everyone in the book.  Gabriel believes that he was sent to be the "warden" of the gates and to blow his horn when the gates shall be opened. He exits the scene singing the song, " Better get ready for the judgement, better get ready for the judgement, My lord is coming down" (p. 209). It is like he is the messenger, warning everyone. The symbols and allusions connect to the bigger theme of racism and absurdity and Gabriel is just one example of that theme, having fought for the United States in a war and as a result lost part of his brain. He is also Troy's consciousness and is trying to tell him and warn him to change his behavior for he is a sinner.