Introduction
Fences play follows the life of Troy Maxson, the main character; he struggles to provide for his family while also trying to come to terms with his issues. The play deals with issues of race, family, and responsibility and ultimately asks whether people can ever truly escape their past. Maxson fought against racism and prejudice and had both positive and negative characteristics.
Troy Maxson Nature
Troy Maxson is the main character in the play Fences. He is a strong, hard-working man who has a lot of pride. The author praises Troy’s industriousness by mentioning that “At age 53, this former Negro League hero is a garbage collector who ekes out a meager existence, working arduously to support his family” (Koprince 353). Based on this quote, Maxson is considered hard-working because he always provided for his family even though he did not have the best job; he always showed up and did his best.
Furthermore, he is very protective of his family and friends. The strict protection was because he had been through a lot in life and did not want to see them go through the same pain. Growing up in the South during segregation, Troy Maxson experienced a lot of racism and violence. Maxson explains the racism he underwent “The racism we faced while I was in the Negro Leagues was one of the things that eventually pushed me out of basketball…” (Koprince 350). Maxson was drafted into the Army to fight in WWII but came back home to find that Jim Crow laws were still in effect. He could not get a job because of his race, so he started working as a sanitation worker (Madden 32). These experiences have led Maxson to be very protective of his family and friends.
Troy Maxson Dominant Characteristics and Traits
Maxson’s dominant traits and characteristics are largely shaped by his motivations and actions. Troy is a proud man who takes great pride in his work as a garbage collector. Maxson is likewise a very talented musician but has never had the opportunity to pursue this talent professionally (Madden 39). Maxson feels disappointed and bitter about his unfulfilled goals; he feels that he was never given a chance to reach his potential and that society has failed him. He is also having a deep loyalty to those he cares about.
Additionally, Maxson was a brave man who never backed down from a challenge. Troy always faced his opponents head-on; he was a proud man who strongly believed in standing up for himself and what he believed in. The narrator elaborates on Troy’s assertiveness by saying, “He refuses to give in to his opponent, whether it is the white man, the devil, or death itself” (Koprince 355). Troy’s bravery is one of the things that made him such a successful player in Major League Baseball. Despite the obstacles he faced in his life, Troy always fought until the very end.
Troy Maxson Motivators
Troy Maxson is motivated by a desire to provide for his family and to make sure that they are receiving the right care. He has a strong sense of responsibility and wants to do what he can to ensure their safety and security. The narrator describes Maxson to be caring for his family, “Working arduously to support his family and living from hand to mouth. I do the best I can do” (Koprince 353). Maxson is saying these words to Rose, and this is enough to prove that he is responsible for providing for his family. Additionally, Troy is motivated by a need for recognition and respect (Madden 52). He wants to be seen as someone who is important and valued, and he takes great pride in his work. Finally, Troy is also motivated by a sense of anger and bitterness (Koprince 349). He feels that he has been cheated out of opportunities in life, and this resentment drives him to work harder than others.
Troy Maxson Actions
Maxson’s actions in the play “Fences” can be difficult to understand, but we can see his motivations more clearly if we consider the context in which he is operating. Troy is an African American man living in Pittsburgh in the 1950s, a time when many black people faced intense discrimination (Mashaiekhy and Kian 221). He has experienced a great deal of hardship in his life, including growing up fatherless and being forced to work in low-paying menial jobs. In many ways, Troy is a product of his environment; he is someone who has been pushed down by society and beaten down by life. Troy’s actions were understandable given his circumstances; he had a tough childhood, was drafted into the military during World War II, and experienced racism and discrimination throughout his life. Troy mentioned, “The racism we faced while I was in the Negro Leagues was one of the things that eventually pushed me out of baseball…I was treated like a second-class citizen” (Koprince 350). He wanted to protect his family from these same challenges and did what he thought was best for them.
Troy Maxson as a Responsible Man
Though Troy Maxson is often depicted as irresponsible, he demonstrates several moments of great responsibility throughout August Wilson’s play Fences. First and foremost, Troy is a provider for his family (Madden 42). He works hard to support them financially, even though he does not always make the best choices with his money. He also takes care of his home and yard, making sure that everything is in good condition. Additionally, Troy protects his family from harm, both physical and emotional. Troy is similarly responsible for his recognition of the struggles faced by African Americans (Madden 42). He is aware of the institutionalized racism that exists in America and tries to protect his family from the harsh realities of life.
Troy Maxson as Irresponsible Man
Other than being responsible, Troy is an irresponsible man in a few ways. For one, he is largely responsible for the dissolution of his own family. He is mentally and emotionally abusive to his wife, Rose, by being an unfaithful husband (Koprince 356). While he provides for his family financially, he does so in a way that is often damaging and humiliating to them. Troy also lacks basic accountability and responsibility towards himself. He spends recklessly, never considering the future implications of his actions. He drinks heavily and risks his job at every opportunity, and Troy states, “Death is nothing, done wrassled with him; you cannot tell me nothing about death” (Koprince 356). Troy says these words when Rose warns him about drinking himself to death. Though I do not approve of Maxson’s heavy drinking, I understand that it could be likely a result of his frustration over the many obstacles he has faced, including racism and poverty.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Troy Maxson is responsible for his family, but he is irresponsible regarding his actions. He is motivated by his need to provide for his family, but he is also unfaithful to his wife, Rose. While these may not be the most positive attributes, they help to explain some of his actions throughout the play. Overall, Troy is a complicated character that requires further examination to fully understand.
Works Cited
Koprince, Susan. “Baseball as History and Myth in August Wilson’s Fences.” African American Review, vol. 40, no. 2, 2006, pp. 349-58. Web.
Madden, Tyler Reid. “Labor and Happiness.” Electronic Theses and Dissertations. Paper 2657, 2017.
Mashaiekhy, Masoumeh, and Kian Pishkar. “Absurdity of Wilson’s Female Characters’ Survival, Success, Spirituality and Their Siren Position.” Journal of Applied Linguistics and Language Research, 2018.