American Dream, Racism And Responsibility In Fences, By August Wilson

The American Dream, Racism and Responsibility
In the play Fences by August Wilson we learn about the character Troy Maxson. A husband and a father who works as a garbage man to make a living for his family. However Troy’s American Dream had consisted of becoming a baseball player in the League which Troy believes was shattered by Racism. Eventually the failure of his dream has caused him to suffer and made his families live a harsh life.
Troy who was jailed for robbing a bank and killing a man was found guilty and sent to prison for fifteen years. There he learned to play the game of baseball and met Jim Bono, who would become a long time friend of his. Later when he was released from prison he was much older and had a record that would

hold him back from playing baseball in the Major League. Nonetheless, Troy did not believe in the fact that he was old or even that the his criminal record mattered. After prison Troy is married to Rose and has a child with her named Cory. Throughout the story the reader can understand that Troy treats his son harshly by being hard on him and not showing any love towards him. When Corry is given a scholarship to play football in a college, his father refuses because he believes that it is not going to get him anywhere in life. This is truly explained by Troy’s emotions when Bono tells Troy that If Cory played sports like him “he’s gonna be alright. Ain’t but two men ever played baseball as good as you” and Troy responds to Bono by saying “What it ever get me? Ain’t got a pot to piss in or a window to throw it out of” (Wilson ). This relates back to how Troy failed his American dream of becoming a baseball player which he believes is due to Racism. Therefore the physiological pain within Troy has for the longest time has destroyed him. Therefore he cheats on his wife Rose by sleeping with a women named Alberta. He tells his wife “I can sit up in her house and laugh”, for once after eighteen years of marriage with Rose, Troy feels free.
In the play the audience is shown that Troy refuses to believe that he was too old to play the game but it was racism that did not let him into the league.

When Rose says tells his that they are letting colored people into the game now and Jackie Robinson had to come first to pave the way. Troy replies by saying “I done seen a hundred niggers play baseball better than Jackie Robinson [...] come telling me I come along too early” (Wilson). I disagree with Troy because Jackie Robinson had patience and carried himself through hard times that I believe Troy could never bare to. Jackie who “was regarded as a role model: an exemplary human being, someone who didn't smoke or drink, who was not hostile and defiant, and who was likely to get along well with white players and baseball executives. Robinson himself wrote: "This player had to be one who could take abuse, name-calling, rejection by fans and sportswriters and by fellow players not only on opposing teams but on his own” (Koprince 351). Acknowledging the fact that in comparison to Troy, who has a criminal history, drinking problem and issues to where he can’t control his anger, it certainly seems as if he should not be able to stand as one of the first African American baseball players to step into the league. Although it makes sense that Troy was not a good fit to pave the way into the league for others, he was somewhat correct on the racism that conflicted with letting African American players into the league. "Josh was

the most powerful hitter we had in the Negro leagues, recalled Leonard. I saw him hit one out of Yankee Stadium. At the Polo Grounds, I saw him hit one between the upper deck and the roof. It hit an elevated train track outside the park" (Rust 35). Despite his legendary abilities, however, Gibson was never given the chance to play in the major leagues—a circumstance that may well have contributed to his untimely death” (Koprince 351). As in the play Troy compares Gibson who was one of the greatest players to ever live never got to play in the league and made almost twice the number of homeruns compared to a Yankees left field caucasian player named Selkirk. Troy brings this up to tell Rose that it's because of racism all these great African American athletes don’t get a chance play and it kills them and eventually leads to a downfall for their families. He gives a perfect example by saying “I saw Josh Gibson’s daughter yesterday. She walking around with raggedy shoes on her feet. Now I bet you Selkirk’s daughter ain’t walking around with raggedy shoes on her feet!” (Wilson ). Overall the lesson is that Troy’s story of the American Dream falls short due to many complications that include racism but as well as his actions and his characteristics through his life.
Responsibility is the main job for Troy but affection and love does not exist in him.

When Cory asks his father why he never liked him? Troy responds back by saying “Like you? I go out of here every morning ... bust my butt ... putting up with them crackers every day ... cause I like you? You about the biggest fool I ever saw.(Pause.)It's my job. It's my responsibility! [...] You my flesh and blood. Not 'cause I like you! Cause it's my duty to take care of you. I owe a responsibility to you” (Wilson ). Though the story Troy controls Cory by not letting him play football and telling him to get a job because Troy feels like he owes his son the responsibility of not going somewhere where me fail, such as in sports like Troy himself. Responsibility also plays a huge part because before Troy went to prison he was married to another woman whom he had a son with named Lyon. It appears as if Troy had missed so many years of showing responsibility to his first child and now he is making it up with Cory by pushing him around. Responsibility can also be seen when Troy lends money to Lyon, although he tells him he has to work on his on to make his money he still gives it to him because he knows he owes him for all the years he had left him during his imprisonment. Also Troy, “Having been forced to leave one wife through imprisonment perhaps also influences indirectly Troy's decision to leave Rose--figuratively--in the current action of the play. It is a reflection of the mental defeat

Troy suffered as a prisoner” (Harris-Lopez). This means Troy chooses to cheat on his wife and he is not controlled by anyone to do it at all. More importantly it’s Troy's habits to make things harder for his family, at first he ended up in prison and left his first wife and his son Lyon to live by themselves. Now he is doing the same to Rose but makes it even worse by giving her his mistress's child. All though Troy does his responsibility by providing his family with things they need but never really shows them affection and love by first cheating on Rose and then kicking Cory out of the house.