Margaret Atwood's Fences

Discovery can lend itself to a monumental experience, that introduces us to new worlds and values, that in turn stimulate new perspectives, that can be far-reaching and transformative. The ramifications of particular discoveries may differ for individuals and their world, they can emerge from a process of deliberate and careful planning evoked by curiosity, or rather be sudden and unexpected. The film ‘Fences’ follows Lucas, a young boy who unintentionally exposes himself to death for the first time, substantially corrupting his innocence. Whilst the Poem, ‘Butterfly’ by Margaret Atwood, tracks the discoveries born out of curiosity, through the eyes of a persona who recollects her father’s experiences with nature. The central characters in

The text, ‘Fences’, explores this through protagonist Lucas, who is brought unknowingly by his father to a crime scene, to which his curiosity leads him to uncover the death of two children. The boy inquisitively indulges his curiosity and climbs over the fence, and disobeys his father. The motif of the fence is weaved throughout the film, acting as a symbolic shield of protection for the young boy, to both conceal and prevent him from the ‘other side’. The climbing sequence commences with a close up on the boys hands and feet as he scales the fence, the director employs a high angle shot of his face looking up, to demonstrates his deliberate actions, brought about from curiosity. Lucas’ defiance is exemplified through the ominous and suspenseful music which builds to a climax, whilst alternating shots between the boys face and the flashing of the camera lights occur. The monumental experience reaches its highest point with the juxtaposition between the fathers slow motion yelling and the boys shocked expression to the distressing sight before him. Lucas’ response to the discovery resulted in an indefensible transformation of self, being both emotionally and psychologically traumatising, suggests that it will affect him long term.