Fences
In 1950s Pittsburgh, a frustrated African-American father struggles with the constraints of poverty, racism, and his own inner demons as he tries to raise a family.
Despite a moderate budget of $24.0M, Fences became a financial success, earning $64.4M worldwide—a 168% return.
Plot Structure
Story beats plotted across runtime
Narrative Arc
Emotional journey through the story's key moments
Story Circle
Blueprint 15-beat structure
Arcplot Score Breakdown
Weighted: Precision (70%) + Arc (15%) + Theme (15%)
Fences (2016) showcases meticulously timed narrative design, characteristic of Denzel Washington's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 2 hours and 19 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 7.2, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Troy Maxson arrives home from work as a garbage collector with his friend Bono, sharing stories and drinking. We see Troy's world: his backyard, his routine, his role as provider and storyteller in 1950s Pittsburgh.. Notably, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 17 minutes when Troy forbids Cory from pursuing football recruitment, citing his own destroyed dreams in the Negro Leagues. This decision disrupts the family equilibrium and sets father-son conflict in motion.. At 12% through the film, this Disruption aligns precisely with traditional story structure. This beat shifts the emotional landscape, launching the protagonist into the central conflict.
The First Threshold at 34 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 25% of the runtime. This illustrates the protagonist's commitment to Troy becomes the first Black garbage truck driver, a victory that reveals his capacity for change while simultaneously hardening his position at home. He fully commits to blocking Cory's football dreams, creating irreversible family damage., moving from reaction to action.
At 69 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 50% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Notably, this crucial beat Troy confesses to Rose that Alberta is pregnant with his child. This false victory (his promotion, his affair giving him what he thinks he wants) is actually his downfall beginning. The stakes raise dramatically as his wife confronts his betrayal., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 102 minutes (74% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Alberta dies in childbirth. Troy loses his mistress and is left holding an infant daughter. He brings the baby to Rose, asking her to raise his child of infidelity. The whiff of death is literal, and Troy confronts Death itself in a monologue., indicates the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 110 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 79% of the runtime. Time jump: Eight years pass. Troy has died. The family must gather for his funeral, forcing them to synthesize their anger, grief, and love for the flawed man who built fences around himself until he was alone., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Fences's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 15 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs structural analysis methodology used to understand storytelling architecture. By mapping Fences against these established plot points, we can identify how Denzel Washington utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Fences within the drama genre.
Denzel Washington's Structural Approach
Among the 4 Denzel Washington films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 7.3, reflecting strong command of classical structure. Fences takes a more unconventional approach compared to the director's typical style. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Denzel Washington filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional drama films include Eye for an Eye, South Pacific and Kiss of the Spider Woman. For more Denzel Washington analyses, see Antwone Fisher, The Great Debaters and A Journal for Jordan.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Troy Maxson arrives home from work as a garbage collector with his friend Bono, sharing stories and drinking. We see Troy's world: his backyard, his routine, his role as provider and storyteller in 1950s Pittsburgh.
Theme
Rose tells Troy about their son Cory's football recruitment opportunity. Troy's resistance reveals the central theme: how the fences we build to protect ourselves can also trap us and those we love.
Worldbuilding
Establishing Troy's relationships: his devoted wife Rose, ambitious son Cory, damaged son Lyons from a previous marriage, mentally impaired brother Gabriel. Troy's bitterness about his failed baseball career and racial barriers permeates every interaction.
Disruption
Troy forbids Cory from pursuing football recruitment, citing his own destroyed dreams in the Negro Leagues. This decision disrupts the family equilibrium and sets father-son conflict in motion.
Resistance
Troy challenges the white establishment by questioning why only white men drive garbage trucks. Cory begins to resist his father's authority. Rose tries to mediate. Troy's affair with Alberta begins to develop off-screen.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Troy becomes the first Black garbage truck driver, a victory that reveals his capacity for change while simultaneously hardening his position at home. He fully commits to blocking Cory's football dreams, creating irreversible family damage.
Mirror World
Rose and Troy's relationship deepens in quieter moments, showing the loving partnership beneath Troy's hardness. Rose represents the life Troy could choose: forgiveness, openness, and emotional honesty rather than defensive walls.
Premise
The promise of the premise: watching Troy's philosophy of "fences" play out across all relationships. He builds a literal fence in the yard while building metaphorical ones with Cory, Rose, Lyons, and Gabriel. His stubbornness as patriarch on full display.
Midpoint
Troy confesses to Rose that Alberta is pregnant with his child. This false victory (his promotion, his affair giving him what he thinks he wants) is actually his downfall beginning. The stakes raise dramatically as his wife confronts his betrayal.
Opposition
Rose withdraws emotionally, staying for duty but not love. Cory's resentment grows into open defiance. Troy's world closes in: his best friend Bono distances himself, his sons reject him, and his walls isolate him completely.
Collapse
Alberta dies in childbirth. Troy loses his mistress and is left holding an infant daughter. He brings the baby to Rose, asking her to raise his child of infidelity. The whiff of death is literal, and Troy confronts Death itself in a monologue.
Crisis
Troy sits in his darkest moment, holding baby Raynell. Rose agrees to raise the child but tells Troy he's a womanless man now. Cory physically confronts Troy with a baseball bat, and Troy throws his son out of the house forever.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Time jump: Eight years pass. Troy has died. The family must gather for his funeral, forcing them to synthesize their anger, grief, and love for the flawed man who built fences around himself until he was alone.
Synthesis
The funeral brings the family together. Cory (now a Marine) returns, initially refusing to attend. Rose has raised Raynell as her own. Gabriel tries to blow his trumpet for Troy. Each character must decide whether to forgive Troy and what of his legacy to keep.
Transformation
Cory and Raynell sing Troy's song together in the backyard by the completed fence. Cory chooses to attend the funeral, to honor his father while not becoming him. The fence remains, but the family learns to open the gate.