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August wilson's fences character analysis
August wilson's fences character analysis
Analysis of troy maxson character in fences
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Effects of Racism Systemic racism puts people of color at an obvious social and economic disadvantage, but how does it affect an individual’s mind? In August Wilson’s insightful play, Fences, the words and actions of Troy Maxson reveal the answer to this intricate question. Troy grew up in a time where being black meant he had no opportunities to pursue he ambitions. Troy’s only choice was to work a low-pay, high-labor job for the rest of his life. During the play, however, times are changing. While racism is still prominent, society has quickly become more accepting. The racism that Troy faced years ago and continues to face in his life drastically affects his life and the way he treats others. This is demonstrated by his discouragement of …show more content…
Cory, the way he is treated at work, and his conversations with Rose. The play begins with Troy and Bono having a drink together.
As they converse, Troy complains up a struggle he has at work: “I went to Mr. Rand and asked him, ‘why?’ Why you got the white mens driving and the colored lifting. Told him, ‘what’s the matter, don’t I count? You think that only white fellows got sense enough to drive a truck” (Wilson 2). Troy deals with the unfair treatment he faces at his workplace in a quick and up-front manner. This reaction shows that his lifelong experience of dealing with racism has made him strong-willed and and ready to deal with deal with any challenge he faces. Later on, Rose strikes up a conversation with Troy when she mentions that Bella’s, a grocery store, charges more than its competitor, A&P. Nevertheless, Troy defends the overpriced shop: “The A&P ain’t never done nothing for me. I spends my money where I’m treated right… You shop where you want to. I’ll do my shopping where the people been good to me” (Wilson 7). In this statement, Troy reveals that he values equal treatment so highly that he is willing to overpay for groceries. Being discriminated against his whole life has made him cherish those who treat him right, even if it comes at a price. On the other hand, a white man at the time would not have to worry about how he is treated by employees when choosing a place to shop. The effects of racism on Troy’s mind can be observed once more when Cory informs him that he was given the opportunity to be recruited by a college
football team. Troy does not approve: “I don’t care where he coming from. The white man ain’t gonna let you get nowhere with that football norway. You go on and get your book-learning so you can work yourself up in that A&P or learn how to fix cars or build houses or something… That way you have something ain’t nobody take away from you” (Wilson 35). It is hard to imagine a parent who does not support their child, especially when a big opportunity such as Cory’s arises. Unfortunately, the injustices that Troy faced in his life have given him a bleak outlook on the world. He is extremely skeptical of Cory achieving success in sports, since he was never given the opportunity to pursue his dream of becoming a Major League baseball player due to his skin color. Even though Cory seems to have a legitimate chance, Troy refuses to believe it. Being a lifelong victim of racism has closed his mind. In August Wilson’s Fences, readers are shown the effects of short and long term racism through the character of Troy Maxson. Troy Maxson’s words and actions demonstrate how constant mistreatment can cause a mind to go under a great deal of change. While making him tough, decisive and extremely cynical, it also gave him a very high appreciation for the kindness of others. Nowadays, the U.S. has become drastically more accepting of people from all backgrounds. Unfortunately, racism is still alive and well. Even though Fences is approaching 40 years old, perhaps we all still have something to learn from it.
Brent Staples and Richard Rodriguez’s autobiographical essays both start out with a problem, but they deal with it in different ways. Brent Staples’ “Just Walk on By” deals with the issue of racism and social judgment he faces because he is African-American, while Rodriguez’s essay “Complexion,” details the self-hatred and shame he felt in his childhood because of his skin color. Both of these essays deal with race, appearance, and self-acceptance, but the authors write about them in different ways. When looking at the similarities and differences together, the points of these essays have a much stronger message about how to deal with discrimination.
In the past, the majority of the African Americans were faced with segregation, poverty, violence, and inequalities. In spite of the civil rights movement most were killed and were lynched. Today, African Americans are more likely suffering from issues, including unemployment, lack of education, poverty, drug abuse, political rights, and injustice. In this rhetorical analysis, Ta-Nehisi Coates and Victor M. Rios explained that people of color still face discrimination, racial injustice, and brutality. Also, these two authors attracted their audiences through persuasive expression, tone, and rational methods to discuss discrimination, racial issues, fears, injustice, and cruelty that govern the society as well. These two authors might be trying to make the large society aware of issues that negatively affect the young males of color and obtain their audience 's advocacy. However, Coates and Rios are different in their
In Fences, the main character Troy obtains an occupation that changes his value systems, his character traits, and his overall ideology. Not only did it affect his lifestyle, it eventually affects those around him. The newly found ideology Troy obtains significantly effects the development of the story's plot.
From beginning to end the reader is bombarded with all kinds of racism and discrimination described in horrific detail by the author. His move from Virginia to Indiana opened a door to endless threats of violence and ridicule directed towards him because of his racial background. For example, Williams encountered a form of racism known as modern racism as a student at Garfield Elementary School. He was up to win an academic achievement prize, yet had no way of actually winning the award because ?The prize did not go to Negroes. Just like in Louisville, there were things and places for whites only? (Williams, 126). This form of prejudice is known as modern racism because the prejudice surfaces in a subtle, safe and socially acceptable way that is easy to rationalize.
In Brent Staples’ narrative, he asserts the fact that society has stereotypical and discriminatory views towards black males, which has caused him to experience distasteful encounters leading him to behave in a very careful and docile manner around others in public spaces. Personally I agree with Brent Staples, the misjudgment and stereotypes that are enforced on certain races has caused there to be an unnecessary disruption and uneasiness in the daily life and activities of such people. I have also found myself in situations that are similar to Brent Staples’ experiences, all of which were caused by the stigma surrounding immigrants and people of color. Author Brent Staples begins the essay by addressing an experience he had when he was younger,
Racism is not only a crime against humanity, but a daily burden that weighs down many shoulders. Racism has haunted America ever since the founding of the United States, and has eerily followed us to this very day. As an intimidating looking black man living in a country composed of mostly white people, Brent Staples is a classic victim of prejudice. The typical effect of racism on an African American man such as Staples, is a growing feeling of alienation and inferiority; the typical effect of racism on a white person is fear and a feeling of superiority. While Brent Staples could be seen as a victim of prejudice because of the discrimination he suffers, he claims that the victim and the perpetrator are both harmed in the vicious cycle that is racism. Staples employs his reader to recognize the value of his thesis through his stylistic use of anecdotes, repetition and the contrast of his characterization.
Mark Twain had written two very similar novels that are based on the ideas of racism, or prejudice against certain races,(in this case, Afro-American during his lifetime. These two novels, Huckleberry Finn and Pudd'nhead Wilson, depict a very satirical yet realistic view of the way society behaves and how people in general live and grow in different social systems or positions. Huck Finn depicts a strong basis on racism and society, where as Pudd'nhead Wilson illustrates how slavery and racism are portrayed in his society.
Should a neglected, discriminated, and misplaced black man living in the mid 1900s possessing a spectacular, yet unfulfilled talent for baseball be satisfied or miserable? The play Fences, written by August Wilson, answers this question by depicting the challenging journey of the main character, Troy Maxon. Troy, an exceptional baseball player during his youth, cannot break the color barrier and is kept from playing in the big leagues. That being his major life setback, Troy has a pessimistic view on the world. His attitude is unpleasant, but not without justification. Troy has a right to be angry, but to whom he takes out his anger on is questionable. He regularly gets fed up with his sons, Lyons and Cory, for no good reason. Troy disapproves of Lyons’ musical goals and Cory’s football ambitions to the point where the reader can notice Troy’s illogical way of releasing his displeasures. Frank Rich’s 1985 review of Fences in the New York Times argues that Troy’s constant anger is not irrational, but expected. Although Troy’s antagonism in misdirected, Rich is correct when he observes that Troy’s endless anger is warranted because Troy experiences an extremely difficult life, facing racism, jail, and poverty.
Colonialism, Genocide, and Slavery have haunted the United States for ions as a result of its decision making and power exuded over others. Something that all of these can be related to is racism. Some believe that racism does not exist today and some believe that it is not the same racism of old as in the 1940’s and 50’s. In the film “Do the Right Thing” producer and actor Spike Lee conveys racism, prejudice and discrimination a pseudo neighborhood in Brooklyn, New York in the late 1980’s. Among the many other sociological concepts and theories that are heavily used throughout the film, social stratification and claimsmaking can help one understand the many stages that the neighborhood goes through within the film.
Institutionalized racism has been a major factor in how the United States operate huge corporations today. This type of racism is found in many places which include schools, court of laws, job places and governmental organizations. Institutionalized racism affects many factors in the lives of African Americans, including the way they may interact with white individuals. In the book “Drinking Coffee Elsewhere Stories” ZZ Packer uses her short stories to emphasize the how institutionalized racism plays in the lives of the characters in her stories. Almost all her characters experience the effects of institutionalized racism, and therefore change how they view their lives to adapt. Because institutionalized racism is a factor that affects how
The effects of racism can cause an individual to be subjected to unfair treatment and can cause one to suffer psychological damage and harbor anger and resentment towards the oppressor. Bigger is a twenty year old man who lives in a cramped rat infested apartment with his mother and 2 younger siblings. Due to the racist real estate market, Bigger's family has only beat down dilapidated projects in south Chicago. poor and uneducated, bigger has little options to make a better life for him and his family. Having been brought up in the 1930's in the racially prejudiced America, Bigger is burdened with the reality that he has no control over his life and that he cannot aspire to anything more than menial labor as a servant.
Racism is everywhere; it is all around us and at most times it resides within us. Racism basically refers to the characterization of people (ethnicity based) with certain distinct traits. It is a tool with which people use to distinguish themselves between each other, where some use it to purposely inflict verbal, physical or mental attacks on others while some use it to simply distinguish or differentiate from one another. It all depends on the context in which it is used. The play Fences by August Wilson, takes place during the late 1950’s through to 1965, a period of time when the fights against segregation are barely blossoming results. The main protagonist, Troy Maxson is an African American who works in the sanitation department; he is also a responsible man whose thwarted dreams make him prone to believing in self-created illusions. Wilson's most apparent intention in the play ‘Fences’, is to show how racial segregation creates social and economic gaps between African Americans and whites. Racism play a very influential role in Troy’s but more importantly it has been the force behind his actions that has seen him make biased and judgmental decisions for himself and his family. Lessons from the play intend to shed light on how racism can affect the mental and physical lives of Troy Maxson and his family.
First, racism still plays a big factor in today’s society as it did fifty years ago. Some might say that everyone has equal opportunity, but some people in America will never see that blacks and whites are equal. Humans have the tendency to judge what is on the outside before seeing who the person really is. The South is the main area where the darker colors mean there is less opportunity and lighter colors mean that there’s more. In today’s society the ability to attain the American Dream is heavily influenced by race. While it is still p...
August Wilson’s Fences was centered on the life of Troy Maxson, an African American man full of bitterness towards the world because of the cards he was dealt in life amidst the 1950’s. In the play Troy was raised by an unloving and abusive father, when he wanted to become a Major League Baseball player he was rejected because of his race. Troy even served time in prison because he was impoverished and needed money so he robbed a bank and ended up killing a man. Troy’s life was anything but easy. In the play Troy and his son Cory were told to build a fence around their home by Rose. It is common knowledge that fences are used in one of two ways: to keep things outside or to keep things inside. In the same way that fences are used to keep things inside or outside Troy used the fence he was building to keep out death, his family, and his disappointments in life while Rose used the fence to keep those she cared about inside and help them bond.