Tragic Hero In August Wilson's Fences

What makes someone a hero or a villain? The definition of a hero is a person, typically a man, who is admired or idealized for courage, outstanding achievements, or noble qualities. Troy Maxson, the main character of August Wilson’s play Fences, isn’t admired or idealized for his courage but he is courageous. The definition of a villain is a character whose evil actions or motives are important to the plot. Although, the decisions Troy makes are very important to the plot of the story, he isn’t a villain either. Troy Maxson is a tragic hero. A tragic hero is a character who despite his good intensions inevitably creates his own down fall.

In Fences, Troy is a workingman who collects garbage. He believes highly in making a living for himself. Troy fights for what he believes in. In the beginning of the play, Troy wants to be one of the truck drivers. He doesn’t like the fact that only white

people drive the trucks. “ “Why?” Why you got the white mens driving and the colored lifting?” ” (pg. 2). Although other people were scared that Troy was going to get fired for asking this question, Troy didn’t care because he knew he couldn’t be fired for this and also because Troy didn’t want to lift anymore, he wanted to drive the truck. After asking his boss about the racial difference between the drivers and the lifters, Troy got the job as a driver. “ … He called me in and told me they was making me a driver. (pg. 44). This is a great thing that Troy was able to get the driving job but Troy doesn’t know how to drive. Also after getting his driving job, Troy and Bono’s friendship begins to fade away because they have different schedules and don’t get to see each other as often as they used to. It’s a good thing that Troy got the driving job, but although he tried to do something good, he hurts himself instead because he begins to lose a good friend.
Another good intention that Troy has is preventing his son’s football career from flourishing so that his son can start working early and earn a living.
“ The white man ain’t gonna let you go nowhere with that football noway.
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, get a trade.” (pg. 35).

Troy tries to teach Cory that it is more important to get an education and make a living rather than worry about football.

Later on in the story, Cory doesn’t listen to Troy so Troy goes to his coach and tells the coach that Cory can’t play football anymore. Also Troy sends away the recruiter, ending all chances of Cory going to college to play football. “Papa done went up to the school and told Coach Zellman I can’t play football no more. Wouldn’t even let me play the game. Told him to tell the recruiter not to come.” (pg. 57). Troy wants his son to care more about his future and not think about football because Troy has had a bad experience with sports and he doesn’t want his son to experience it to. Cory gets upset and tells Troy, “ Just cause you didn’t have a chance! You just scared Im gonna be better than you, that’s all.” This leads to tensions between Cory and his father. This shows how Troy is trying to look out for Cory. He has good intentions on helping Cory out in the long run, but the way he goes about doing this leads to him and Cory having a bitter

relationship.
The last scene before Troy dies (starts on pg. 84.), Troy’s drunk sitting on the porch and Cory is trying to walk up the steps into the house. Troy doesn’t let him pass by and tells him to say, “Excuse me.” It seems to be a lighthearted prank but it turns into a full blown out fight between Cory and Troy. Troy tells Cory to say, “Excuse me,” when he walks by him like any parent would when their child isn’t behaving with manners. “If you wanna go in my house and I’m sitting on the steps…you say excuse me. Like your mama taught you.” It seems like Troy just wants an “Excuse me” from his son because it’s mannerly and respectful. This is a little childish scene that causes both Cory and Troy to over-react and ultimately leads to Troy kicking Cory out and Cory disliking his father. In this scene we can see that Troy is being annoying but still has some good intentions by trying to enforce manners on his son, but those intentions cause him to force his son out of his hose and his life.
Throughout the play Fences, Troy has had some very good intentions. He never seems to want to actually do something that is wrong. The choices he has made always have had a reason behind them. The decision to become a driver was made because he was tired of only seeing white men driving the trucks. The decision he made to stop Cory from playing football was made because he wants his son to make a living and be able to take care of himself and his future family. The decision Troy made to have his son say, “excuse me” was so that his son has manners and shows respect. The decisions Troy has made throughout the play are tough decisions and these decisions make Troy Maxson a courageous and selfless man. Sometimes the decisions we make are beneficial for other people but bring hatred and misfortune to ourselves.