Character analysis
Jim Bono
in Fences by August Wilson
Jim Bono is Troy Maxson's oldest and closest friend in August Wilson's Fences, acting as the play's moral witness and conscience. The two men met in prison long before the events of the play, and their Friday-evening tradition of sharing a pint of gin in Troy's yard shapes much of Acts One and Two. Bono serves as a sounding board: he laughs at Troy's exaggerated stories about wrestling Death, admires his strength, yet quietly takes note of the warning signs that Troy overlooks. When Troy starts his affair with Alberta, Bono is the first to notice and openly advises Troy to "get back on solid ground" before he loses Rose. Unfortunately, Troy ignores his advice, signaling the end of Bono's influence over him.
Bono's journey is one of gradual, sorrowful withdrawal. As Troy's decisions become more destructive—the affair, Gabriel's institutionalization, the rift with Cory—Bono visits less often. By Act Two, he shows up infrequently and admits to Troy that their once-close friendship has faded now that Troy no longer works alongside him on the garbage trucks. This detail emphasizes that Bono's loyalty is rooted in shared work and struggles rather than just nostalgia.
Key traits include unwavering loyalty, clear moral insight, and a respect for Rose that subtly points to Troy's betrayal. Bono embodies the community standard against which Troy's tragic downfall is measured, making him essential to the play's moral framework, even with his limited stage time.
Connected characters
- Troy Maxson
Troy is Bono's lifelong best friend, forged in prison and sustained through decades of shared work and Friday rituals. Bono admires Troy deeply but serves as his clearest moral mirror, openly warning him about the Alberta affair. As Troy's behavior worsens, Bono's visits dwindle, dramatizing how Troy's choices cost him even his most devoted friendship.
- Rose Maxson
Bono holds Rose in high regard, frequently praising her steadiness and worth. His admiration for Rose sharpens his unspoken condemnation of Troy's infidelity; he urges Troy to honor her before the affair destroys the marriage, positioning Rose as the moral benchmark Bono believes Troy should aspire to meet.
- Alberta
Bono is aware of Troy's involvement with Alberta before most others and uses that knowledge to confront Troy directly. Alberta herself never appears onstage, but Bono's concern about her represents his attempt to intervene in Troy's self-destruction before it becomes irreversible.
- Cory Maxson
Bono has a peripheral but affirming relationship with Cory, acknowledging the young man's football talent. His general goodwill toward Cory implicitly contrasts with Troy's harsh suppression of Cory's ambitions, reinforcing Bono's role as a humane counterpoint to Troy's rigidity.
- Lyons Maxson
Bono interacts briefly with Lyons during the yard gatherings, observing the tension between Lyons and Troy with characteristic quiet. His presence during these scenes underscores the fractured father-son dynamic without Bono himself becoming directly involved.
Key quotes
“Some people build fences to keep people out, and other people build fences to keep people in.”
Bono
Analysis
This line is delivered by Bono, Troy Maxson's longtime friend, in August Wilson's Pulitzer Prize-winning play Fences (1985). It occurs in Act Two, Scene One, as Bono reflects on the fence that Troy has been building in his backyard at Rose's insistence, albeit slowly and reluctantly. Bono shares this insight directly with Troy, offering a subtle yet profound character analysis. While on the surface, the comment pertains to the physical fence, it also reveals deeper truths about Troy's emotional and moral state. Rose desires the fence to be built out of love — aiming to keep her family close and safe. In contrast, Troy has been shutting out those who care for him: he is involved in an affair, he holds back affection from his son Cory, and he resists allowing anyone to truly understand his inner self. The fence ultimately serves as the play's key symbol, representing the conflicting human desires to protect and to confine. Wilson uses Bono's remarks to highlight the thematic struggle between love as a means of inclusion and fear as a cause of exclusion, while also hinting at the painful rifts that will emerge within the Maxson family.