Question

Fences by Pat Nora What is the poet saying about "self" and "identity"?

Answer 1

• Fences is an exceptional poem by Pat Nora. The poet talks about growing up in a Spanish household and draws a clear contrast of the lives of poor people among the rich tourists. She beautifully highlights class divisions and privileges reserved to the rich people of our society.

• She also explains how her family knows their true place in this social order. Her brother works at the beach while her mother stops her siblings i.e her little sister from going to the beach, since it is not their right to walk on sand.

• She also describes how she works on fixing the fence every day while glancing at women and children enjoying their time leisurely.