| By writing ten plays set over the course of the twentieth century, August Wilson claims to be presenting a "kind" of history by which audiences can evaluate whether right choices have been made. He claims to avoid presenting characters as victims and instead presents strategies people use to deal with oppression. This study addresses six such strategies in five of Wilson's plays: Joe Turner's Come and Gone, Ma Rainey's Black Bottom, The Piano Lesson, Fences , and Two Trains Running. The strategies include Christianity, mysticism, materialism, violence, family, and education. Focus is on the text, specifically statements and actions of the characters in reference to these strategies. Particular focus was given to secondary characters since the protagonists are generally unsuccessful in dealing with oppression and since studies regarding these characters already exist.; Conclusions vary from strategy to strategy. Christianity is frequently utilized by African Americans, but without direct evidence of success. While characters appear to find comfort there, nothing more is concluded. Mysticism, however, is consistently productive in combating oppression, assisting characters in rediscovery and reunification with lost family members, both alive and dead, and helping to prevent unwise partaking of violence and materialism. Violence is generally unproductive and leads to severe consequences, but in two cases proves extremely productive with no negative consequences. Materialism is generally unproductive, although several characters successfully employ this strategy. The key to successful implementation appears to be a balance of materialism with another strategy, such as mysticism, family, or education. Family is usually productive, but many counter examples exist which highlight its importance and complexity. Formal education is useless, but education gained by teaming from mistakes, by reconnecting with the culture, or by discussing matters with wiser people is always successful.; This study finds Wilson using interplay between protagonists and secondary characters to make important, though at times conflictive, statements. Through the strategies they employ, his secondary characters become the bearers of the messages Wilson wants his plays to convey, thereby rising to importance equal to the primary characters, and becoming an important factor in the playwright's success. |
