The theme of racial discrimination and its negative impact on the lives of African Americans in the 1950's. Troy Maxson complicates an already uneasy family life with his extra-marital affair with Alberta. Plot as a sequence of events dictated by the actions of the characters in a play. In the play, Troy Maxson's home is the centre of most of the actions and events, except those recalled by flashbacks. Raynell is Troy's extra-marital daughter whose mother, Alberta, dies in childbirth at the hospital, Raynell is brought home by Troy 'wrapped in blankers'. Events in the Maxson's family seem to be very much under control - no significant upheavals. Raynell's entry into the family introduces the most significant crisis the family has to deal with Maxson is disowned by Rose as her husband; 'from right now this child got a mother but you a womanless man. Rose is left with Raynell after Troy's sudden death. Rose prepares Raynell to get into her rather tight shoes to attend church for troy's burial.