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Literary analysis of fences by august wilson
Literary analysis of fences by august wilson
Literary analysis of fences by august wilson
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In August Wilson’s “Fences”, Troy is considered to be the protagonist in this story. Usually the protagonist will have some form of conflict either it being within themselves or something /someone. Troy Maxson characteristics and his circumstances can also classify him as being a tragic figure as well.
Troy Maxson is the leading character here in this play, it is evident that there are many conflicts Troy faces throughout this play, from the time he wanted to become professional baseball player but society prohibited from doing so because of racial barriers,
The disappointment Troy has in this situation impacts his judgment regarding Cory who is the son of Troy being recruited to play college football, creating tension between the two.
Troy is portrayed as a hardworking dedicated man. Equipped with a strong work ethic and persistent Troy seeks to instill the same work ethic he has into his children. For every time a family member would mention a career that Troy doesn’t be is legitimate for example Cory wanting to be football player, Troy would constantly remind his family that’s he is the breadwinner, in Act 1, Scene 3 Cory asks Troy “How come you ain’t never liked me”. Offended Troy defends himself saying, “Don’t you eat every day? … Got a roof over your head …Got Clothes on your back...Why you think that is? ” (pg. 1075.) This one of many examples that displays Troy’s belief that his job is superior to any other career.
The protagonist is the most important character. In fences Troy shapes the play and the play shapes him as well. If you were to remove the character from the story and the story happens the same way still; the person selected should not be considered as a protagonist. In this case almost everything in the...
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...laws. A tragic flaw Troy has is when cheats with a woman behind Rose's back. Another flaw would be Troy becoming both a victim and a victimizer. He is victimized by many factors such as by his race, the way his father treated him, growing up in poverty, as well as the society that surrounds him; Troy shows why he is considered as victimizer as well when controls or try to take advantage of Cory, and Rose. Wilson portrays Troy as a man worthy of respect and admiration because his intentions are well-meaning. He has overcome many trials in his life and is a father that may not be perfect but nevertheless is still there for his boys. In Wilson’s personal life he never had a fatherly experience. As a result he is sending a message to the reader that it is better to have a father there that is less than perfect than having a “rolling stone” for a father.
“Fences” is a play written by August Wilson about a family living in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in 1957. Troy and Rose have been married for 18 years and have two grown children; Lyons and Corey. Troy is an uptight, prideful man who always claims that he does not fear death, the rest of his family is more laxed and more content with their lives than Troy is. As the play progresses the audience learns more about Troy’s checkered past with sharecropping, his lack of education and the time he spent in prison. The audience also learns more about Troy’s love for baseball and the dreams he lost due to racism and segregation. In the middle of the play the author outwardly confirms what the audience has been suspecting; Troy isn’t exactly satisfied with his life. He feels that he does not get to enjoy his life and that his family is nothing more than a responsibility. Getting caught up in this feelings, Troy cheats on Rose with a woman named Alberta and fathers a child with the mistress. By the end of the play Troy loses both of the women and in 1965, finally gets the meeting with death that he had been calling for throughout the play. Over the
Conflicts and tensions between family members and friends are key elements in August Wilson's play, Fences. The main character, Troy Maxon, has struggled his whole life to be a responsible person and fulfill his duties in any role that he is meant to play. In turn, however, he has created conflict through his forbidding manner. The author illustrates how the effects of Troy's stern upbringing cause him to pass along a legacy of bitterness and anger which creates tension and conflict in his relationships with his family.
The play wants the readers to judge Troy, as a bad husband, a bad brother, a bad father and a bad man. I feel this way, too. He cheated on Rose. Then he left her with the child he had with his mistress. He didn’t care at all about Gabriel. He stole money from him and he sent him to an institution. Troy never cared for Cory. He wouldn’t let him play football, the only thing Cory wanted to do. All of these examples show that Troy is an uncaring husband, a bad brother, a poor father and a generally an uncaring
Everything in August Wilson’s play Fences, can be related to or is a fence of some sort. The main character, Troy Maxson, is a retired negro league baseball star whose whole life revolves around fences. Fences is completely driven by this idea of metaphorical and physical fences. Pride and alcohol are the fences that really cloud Troy’s views. His son, Cory, has fences in this play as well. All these fences intertwine to create a story that addresses many of society's problems.
Weaving together allusions to Greek mythology and the American baseball legends, August Wilson in his play Fences tells the story of Troy Maxson, the tragic hero who falls victim to his misconceptions of his world. Tenaciously holding on to his experience of racism and hardship in the 1950s, Troy does not realize the present world around him has changed. As a result, Troy tries to protect his son Cory from following his footsteps, but Cory tries to break free of his father’s authority. However, by creating this metaphorical fence to protect Cory, Troy also prevents Cory from reaching his true potential. Indeed, through metaphors and allusions, August Wilson portrays Troy Maxson as the tragic hero unable to recognize the changing African American culture around him.
... does tell the truth. He talks truthfully about his father and how he is a lot like him. He also admits that the only difference with him and his father is that he does not beat his children. Troy provided for his family. Additionally, even though he was very tough on Cory, he admitted that he was responsible for taking care of him and the rest of the family. In Act One, scene three, Troy explains to Cory why he treats him the way he does. Cory asks, “How come you ain’t never liked me?” (1346). Troy can’t admit to like his own son, so points out that he doesn’t have to like him in order to provide for him. “[…] ‘Cause it’s my duty to take care of you. I owe a responsibility to you! […] I ain’t got to like you” (1347). Deep down, somewhere in the dark abyss that is Troy’s heart, he sincerely cares about his family. He just has a very different way of articulating it.
Throughout the play Fences, by August Wilson, we are introduced to several of the Troy Maxson's family members. We soon learn that because of Troy's personality traits, he is unable to sustain a healthy relationship. Troy is a father, a husband, and a brother, and unfortunately, he makes it impossible for any of those numerous relationships to thrive.
There are many causes that molded Troy Maxson into the dishonest, cantankerous, hypocritical person that he is in August Wilson’s play, “Fences” (1985). Troy had an exceptionally unpleasant childhood. He grew up with a very abusive father that beat him on a daily basis. His mother even abandoned him when he was eight years old. In this play, Troy lies habitually and tries to cover himself up by accusing others of lying. He is a very astringent person in general. His dream of becoming a major league baseball player was crushed as a result of his time spent in jail. By the time he was released from jail, he was too old to play baseball efficiently.
Without recognizing the early hardships of Troy’s life, it is easy to dismiss him and his cynical outlook. What can be learned from his story is evident. Never judge someone for his or her seemingly unwarranted attitude because there is a good chance it is completely defensible. Works Cited: Rich, Frank. Theater: Wilson's Fences.
During Troy’s younger years he aspired to be a professional baseball player, however, at that time, African Americans were not allowed to play baseball in the major league. This racistic “rule” did not allow Troy to fulfill his American Dream. Troy tells this to Rose and Corey while they are outside and he is hitting the ball tied to the string on the big tree. Troy was always bitter about this, giving him a pessimistic view on life. Since Troy’s dad was also a bad man, this unfavorable upbringing also influenced his views in life. This perspective is why he told his son that he shouldn’t pursue his dream of becoming football player because he knows thaa in their world it is very difficult for African Americans to break out of their oppressive surroundings and move past their ethnicity. Troy knows that being black will always be a struggle for Corey and for that reason tells him that it is unrealistic to follow through with his
Troy’s life was not easy. He had to stand alone fighting in a world that closed its doors of triumph in his face. In spite of his great talent for baseball, the barrier of racism did not let him succeed in this promising career. This event marked his life in such a way that his life became a reflection of his bitterness. One of the moments where we can see Troy’s position is when his own son Cory begins to trace its path as a football player. He refuses to accept that his son might succeed in his dream of becoming a professional, showing his over protection, and at the same time jealousy. He cannot stand the thought of Cory getting abused by the athletic industry, but most important, he also can’t stand the thought of Cory succeeding where he failed. The anger Troy has inside shows up when Cory asked a simple question: “How come you ain’t never liked me?” and Troy answered angry: “Like you? Who the hell say I got to like you? W...
The theme of August Wilson’s play “Fences” is the coming of age in the life of a broken black man. Wilson wrote about the black experience in different decades and the struggle that many blacks faced, and that is seen in “Fences” because there are two different generations portrayed in Troy and Cory. Troy plays the part of the protagonist who has been disillusioned throughout his life by everyone he has been close to. He was forced to leave home at an early age because his father beat him so dramatically. Troy never learned how to treat people close to him, and he never gave anyone a chance to prove themselves because he was selfish.
Troy Maxson is portrayed as a big man with a very big personality and a lot of dignity. He is a bitter guy who believes that he owes his family absolutely everything, from his money down to even his own soul. He is the type of man who wants more than what he can get and that is what drives him but it is also that very “want” that leads him into a very tragic life. Writing on the idea of Troy being a tragic hero, Martin says “Troy’s strengths are found in his willingness to fulfill his duty at all times. He also speaks directly to his dignity regarding his position of work and his career in baseball) Martin, 2) “Fences” Troy has many
Troy would be viewed as a tragic figure in the play because he tries to do good by teaching life lessons in the play, but he failed to demonstrate some of them that which tampers with his relationships throughout Fences .Troy teaches Lyons responsibility by showing him the influence his dad. Troy displays his idea of people should do right by you when he chooses to shop at Bella’s instead of the A and P which is cheaper. Also, he fails to demonstrate it by doing wrong by Bono and Rose when he had an affair with Alberta. Troy tries to teach Cory that he should focus on getting a real job because it is very likely that football won’t work out, that is why Troy gets mad that Cory lied about his job and tells Cory’s coach he can’t play anymore.
Troy grew up in an unloving home with a father he wished he had never known or experienced. Troy attempted to play baseball in the major leagues, but was rejected because of his skin color, not necessarily because of his baseball ability. This painful and infuriating experience, along with the lack of preparation and training from his father, is the root cause of Troy’s intensity and intentionality in the way he raises Cory. His goals for Cory, while different from Okonkwo’s actual goals for his sons, are similarly shown through tough love and harsh treatment at times. Troy uses his dad as an example of what not to do in certain scenarios, as well as at time what to do in other situations. He admires the way his father “felt a responsibility towards [them]” because “without that responsibility he could have walked off and left [them]” (Wilson 51). Troy understands that sometimes you do something for your child because you have to, not because you want to. Other than that feeling of responsibility to raise his children, Troy views his father as an example of how he does not want to live, as well as how he does not want to raise his own children. Troy is adamant about not allowing Cory to act on the football scholarship offer he receives because of the experience he had with major league baseball. Troy tells Cory that “the white man ain’t gonna let you get nowhere with that