Hard upbringing can often destroy the best in people while bringing out the worst in the individuals who surround them. In the story Fences, Troy Maxon, a middle-aged African American man with a difficult and burdening past, uses the experiences of his ruthless childhood and struggles of early adulthood as an excuse for his cold-heartedness towards his wife and three children. Eventually, his actions shift his loved one’s feelings to those of anger and hatred as time passes by. Through the use of much symbolism, ironic circumstances, and an abundance of life-changing themes, August Wilson, the author, portrays the effects of one character’s difficult past on everyone who associates with him along with the oppression that stimulates from doing so.
In the 1950s, the struggles of segregation were still present in society as the United States, especially the South, facing the challenges of the Civil Rights Movement. In spite of the transformations that were taking place, many African Americans during this time period persisted in holding opposite races accountable for the positions they held in life. Troy Maxson, the main character in Fences, is a stereotypical individual that maintains holding grudges towards those who have lessened his value in life, including his abusive father and Major League scouts. As a young child, Troy enjoyed the sport of baseball; however, his failure of becoming a professional is his excuse for refusing to allow his middle son, Cory, to participate in his school’s football team. Troy is often characterized as a selfish entity that denounces his wife and children, for he pursues searching for an “escape” from his hardships in life, even if it involves the betrayal of his wife of eighteen years. He regularly spends time with his best friend, Bono, for he faced the same struggles in his childhood as well. Troy also has a brother, Gabriel, who is placed in the story to provide a sense of humbleness and regularly separates the chaotic situations with his appearance. All of these characters play a vital role in developing Troy’s character throughout the entirety of the play Fences.
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Troy Maxson was a substantial baseball player in his earlier years who blames his unsuccessfulness in joining the majors on the discrimination of his race; however, his wife regularly reminds him that he became too old before African Americans were accepted by professional teams. The shadow of Troy’s injustice has burdened him for many years with increased bitterness towards all who played a role in his failure. He often refers to the actuality of life and death in terms of baseball, taunting death by stating, “Death ain’t nothing. I did see him. Done wrastled with him. You can’t tell me nothing about death. Death ain’t nothing but a fastball on the outside corner. And you know what I’ll do to that!” (10). This particular pitch was considerably effortless for Troy to knock out of the park, meaning he can easily conquer death, for he has already succeeded once in his battle with pneumonia. Not only does Wilson utilize the terms of baseball as a form of portraying Troy’s viewpoint on death, but his usage of the sport also presents an explanation of his affair with Alberta. After eighteen years of marriage, he has the audacity to confront his Christian wife with the news of his betrayal. Once again, in order to explain his reasoning for his mistake, Troy refers to baseball, “... I was safe. I had me a family. A job. I wasn’t gonna get that last strike. I was on first looking for one of the boys to knock me in. To get me home” (70). Rose immediately returns Troy to the true subject of their conversation, confused as to how he could do this to her. His affair, along with his justification, presents another trait in Troy’s character, selfishness.
Along with the use of symbolism, the author introduces the theme of how the growth of one’s unhappiness can often be brought upon others, just as Troy does to his family. Wilson continues this theme with another member of Troy’s family, his middle son, Cory. Cory exceeded the expectations of his high school football coaches, even receiving an offer from a nearby college to continue his career. When Troy receives news of Cory’s potential prosperity, he instantly searches for an approach to sabotage his own son’s success. He expresses his concern to his wife, “I told that boy about that football stuff. The white man ain’t gonna let him get nowhere with that football. I told him when he first come to me with it. Now you come telling me he done went and got more tied up in it” (8). Troy speaks of his discontent with Cory’s choices, viewing his decisions as an obligation rather than a love for the sport. Rather than being pleased with their accomplishments of Cory, he repeatedly refers to his own inability as a reason for him to proceed in the opposite direction. Along with exhibiting, again, Troy’s selfishness, this topic of debate also demonstrates an additional theme of the ways in which the past can affect one’s future decisions. He allows his own personal experience to affect the way he approaches Cory’s opportunities for success, even if he is making the wrong choice.
The fence which Rose asked of her husband also plays a significant role throughout Fences; this project serves as both a literal and figurative device. Troy often questions Rose’s proposal of this new addition to their home until Bono explains her reasoning. While discussing this topic, Bono clarifies, “Some people build fences to keep people out… and other people build fences to keep people in. Rose wants to hold on to you all. She loves you” (61). Although Troy is aware of his wife’s love for him, Bono is concerned about Troy’s love for Rose; Bono uses this quote as an attempt of convicting Troy of his wrongdoings. He describes in depth the meaning of the fence to express how greatly Rose wishes to keep her family together. She hopes to hold her loved ones close to her which is why the fence becomes a positive and necessary chore. At first, Troy is very reluctant to complete this task for his wife which can also display his stubbornness; however, the author uses this to symbolize his lack of commitment in their marriage as well. Troy also holds a completely different perspective concerning the significance of the fence. In Troy’s eyes, the fence is a blockade between his life and death; once the barrier is broken, his life will come to an end. Troy wrestles with thoughts of death in many parts of the play. Troy relays his message to Mr. Death by stating, “Alright… Mr. Death. See now… I’m gonna tell you what I’m gonna do. I’m gonna take and build me a fence around this yard. See? You stay over there until you’re ready for me” (77). Troy is confident in his battle with death, for he knows everyone must be defeated at some point in their lifetime. It appears ironic that the fence does not appear finished until the day of Troy’s funeral. The completion of the fence as a whole also describes the strength of the Maxson family and ironically the strength of the man who tore them apart, who also brings them together in death.
The play Fences is used as a figurative and literal representation of the lives of people during times when Civil Rights became a severe issue. People held different perspectives during this time, solely based on their treatment in previous years. Through the use of symbolism, irony, and life-changing themes, Arthur Wilson provides the reader with the outlooks of different types of people. He mainly focuses on Troy Maxon who houses much bitterness and hatred in his thoughts and actions while portraying how these feelings have the potential to destroy a family.
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