Why does troy finish the fence

Rose is questioning his commitment to their family and asking that Troy come straight home after work. Troy admits that he is planning to go to the hospital tomorrow after work to see Alberta. It seems as though she might be having the baby early.

Rose tells Troy that she heard they went and hauled Gabe out of Miss Pearl's house to take him to an institution. She saw the papers that Troy signed giving them permission to do it. Troy adamantly denies allowing this to happen. She compares his decision to the way he hurt Cory too by not signing the paper allowing him to go to college.

Troy continues to deny having signed anything as Rose goes inside to answer the phone. When she comes out, she tells Troy it was the hospital calling to let them know that Alberta died during childbirth, but the baby is fine.

Troy becomes angry and once again speaks to death personified. He says he's going to build a fence to keep death out, and death is only allowed to come and take him away, no one else. In scene three Troy returns home three days later holding a newborn child. Troy humbly asks Rose to help him raise his daughter because she is innocent and motherless. Rose takes pity on the child and agrees to help take care of her, but she makes it clear that their relationship as husband and wife is over.

Study Guide. By August Wilson. Previous Next. Act 2, Scene 4 Lyons enters from the street, knocks on the door, and calls for Rose. Rose calls from inside the house, telling Lyons to stop yelling — she's just gotten Raynell to sleep. Lyons says he's come by to pay Troy back the twenty dollars he owes him. Rose tells him to come inside and put the money on the table.

He does so. As he's exiting, Cory enters. Lyons apologizes to Cory for missing his graduation — he had a gig and couldn't make it. Cory says it's alright. Lyons asks Cory what he's up to now. Looking for a job, Cory replies. Lyons tells him he ought to see if Troy can help him find one.

Cory doesn't seem too excited by the idea. Lyons exits. Cory picks up the bat and practices his swing. Troy enters the yard. Cory stares at him for a second, then exits. Rose enters from the house, carrying a cake.

She's taking it down to the church for a bake sale. Rose tells Troy that his dinner is on the stove and that Lyons left him twenty dollars. Troy tries to give Rose some money. She tells him to put it on the table. He asks her when she's coming back. Bono decides to go home and not help troy with the fence anymore. Rose asks Troy about what happened with Gabe at the station. Troy tells Rose about the fifty dollars and a hearing in three weeks to determine whether or not Gabe should be recommitted to an asylum.

Troy explains to Rose that Gabe was arrested "for howling and carrying on" after he chased some kids away who were teasing him. Troy and Rose argue over whether or not Gabe needs more supervision. Troy suddenly tells Rose that he is going to be a father to a child of another woman. Gabriel shows up at the house and interrupts their important conversation. Rose becomes upset and outraged. She cannot believe that she has been loyal to Troy for eighteen years and he has done this to her.

Gabriel senses that Troy has done something wrong to Rose. Gabe compliments Troy on helping him earlier that day at the police station. Troy expresses to Rose that he spent time with Alberta to escape. Rose believes she has been a good wife and mother and so Troy should have stayed with her. Troy selfishly conveys to Rose that he used Alberta to get away from the pain of his stagnant career and life goals.

Rose rebuts his excuse by asserting that she invested her whole life in Troy, even when she knew he wasn't going anywhere. Rose feels just as stuck as Troy but she hasn't hurt Troy the way is hurting her. Rose accuses Troy of being selfish and of taking and not giving. This makes Troy very upset and he grabs Rose's arm. Rose yells at Troy because he is hurting her arm. Cory hears the noise from inside the house.

He comes outside and surprises Troy by grabbing him from behind.