Aside: speech meaning to be inaudible to someone, especially an actor's speech heard by the audience (and maybe select characters onstage) but not heard by some or all of the character's onstage.

Soliloquy: speech in which an actor, alone on stage, reveals his/her inner thoughts and emotions. Soliloquies are like keyholes where a viewer may catch a glimpse into the brain, heart, spirit of a character.

Monologue: extended speech by an actor to another actor(s) in which the speaker's character is revealed in the text and style of the speech. The speaker may reveal more about themselves than he/she planned!

At the beginning of Act One, Scene 2, the lights come up on Rose, along on stage, hanging up clothes. She hums and sings softly to herself. Because she is alone onstage her words can be considered a soliloquy. (Think alone~solo versus one (talking a lot)~mono.)

Soliloquies help convey thoughts and feelings. What's revealed to the audience by Rose's brief moment on stage alone? How does her song develop her character?

Her song refers to a fence, the play's title and a multifaceted metaphor. The fence Rose seeks would protect her and her family. Symbolically, the fence Troy and Cory are supposed to build together remains unfinished while both Cory and Troy spend time on things just for them -- football and Alberta, respectively.

Rose’s wish, while not necessarily identifying her loved ones’ conflicts, shows how important home is to her. She knows that the outside world can be dangerous and unfriendly.

Also, in the song above, Rose shows the need for individual support in order to negotiate each day's travel, the public and private strife and struggle, along with the brewing conflict between Troy and Cory. She's trying to hold the family together and looking for inspiration and the strength from a spiritual source. We can infer a lot about her from this short little song.