Troy's Character in Fences Essay

Fences was written by August Wilson in 1983. The protagonist of the story is Troy Maxson. He is described as a big burly, powerful, vulgar man. He is an African American man who works for the sanitation department, lifting garbage into trucks. Troy struck me as a complicated character. Troy suffered through many hardships as a child and young adult. These trials have molded him into the man we see. He has an intense passion for baseball, . He was also imprisoned for his early adult life for killing a man in self defense. Troy is loving and cold all at the same time. He is a responsible husband and father, providing for his familys physical and financial wellbeing. Troy is however unable to relate to his wife, brother and his two sons emotionally. Troy wants better for his children, but he refuses to support his son, Corey, when it comes to something, (Coreys football prospects) that will enable him to attend college. Troy is physically affectionate towards Rose, his devoted and loving wife of eighteen years, but he doesnt put time into her emotionally. Troy Maxson takes great pride in the fact that he is a husband, father, friend, and brother. During the course of the play Troy looses everything he has worked so hard to achieve. Troy through his actions and decision builds a fence secluding him from everyone dear to him. In this paper I will attempt to show how August Wilson created this character to develop his story through interaction with other characters and ultimately convey his theme.

Troys parents helped shape his character. The family was poor, His mother abandoned the family due to the fathers abusive behaviors.

Troy was a former baseball star in the Negro Leagues

All of the characters in the play by August Wilson Fences experience a personal transformation over the course of the play. While the characters of Troy and Rose in "Fences" by August Wilson may seem to be the characters whose experiences of change are most profound, Corys changes provide a richer subject for analysis because his personal transformation reflects the transition between generations that is characteristic of all adolescents. As such, the changes that the character of Cory in the play "Fences" by August Wilson experiences have universal relevance; whereas, the changes of the other characters are more personal. Cory must negotiate the limitations of his fathers generation and the challenges of forging his own unique identity, and when he does so, he is able to overcome the limitations that have bound him, destroying the metaphorical fences that exist between himself and others. (Smith, Nicole Article Myriad) Cory becomes bitter because of the fences that have been erected between himself and his dream, himself and his father, and himself and society. Whereas he begins as an optimistic, hopeful young man full of hope and opportunity, he becomes disillusioned, just as his father was. The main difference between father and son, however, is that Cory has a final chance for redemption and the recovery of hope. When his father dies and Cory refuses to attend the funeral, his mother offers him the opportunity to change. It is important that Cory has the possibility of choosing to change his attitude, and the fact that he accepts this possibility permits him to experience his character transformation. At the plays conclusion, Cory has integrated all of his experiences and emotions-- loss, frustration, conflict, hope, and possibility

Cory becomes bitter because of the fences that have been erected between himself and his dream, himself and his father, and himself and society. Whereas he begins as an optimistic, hopeful young man full of hope and opportunity, he becomes disillusioned, just as his father was. The main difference between father and son, however, is that Cory has a final chance for redemption and the recovery of hope. When his father dies and Cory refuses to attend the funeral, his mother offers him the opportunity to change. It is important that Cory has the possibility of choosing to change his attitude, and the fact that he accepts this possibility permits him to experience his character transformation. At the plays conclusion, Cory has integrated all of his experiences and emotions-- loss, frustration, conflict, hope, and possibility (Smith, Nicole Article Myriad)