A Man Named Troy

By Brook Fuhlendorf

Troy was the main character in August Wilson's play Fences. He was a husband, father, provider, former athlete, friend, and an individual. The society he was raised in had little opportunities for African Americans. He was a laborer as he cleaned up people's garbage for a living. This play was set in the nineteen-sixties, when African American men were expected to do manual labor and maintain their place as provider for their families. I believe Troy was a good man, as he loved his wife and provided for his family. He was a hard worker and strong enough to try and lead his sons in the direction he believed was right. At one point, his older son was asking for money because he didn't have a real job. Troy said, "Where you think that ten dollars you talking about come from? I'm just supposed to haul people's rubbish and give you my money cause you too lazy to work. You too lazy to work and wanna know why you ain't got what I got" (Wilson 17).  He was trying to show his son that he needed to work hard, like himself, to get money. Alas, he was weak in the areas of lust and of listening to others. He said, "I eye all the women. I don't miss nothing. Don't never let nobody tell you Troy Maxson don't eye the women" (Wilson 3). This inappropriate behavior was not something a strong married man should have admitted to doing. Additionally, he could not see the changing world. In Act One, his younger son wanted to play football and, unfortunately, Troy was against it. This was due to the fact that he was a baseball player when he was younger and felt that he wasn't given a fair shot because of his skin color. He said, "I don't care where he coming from. The white man ain't gonna let you get nowhere with that football noway. You go on and get your book-learning so you can work yourself up in the A&P or learn how to fix cars or build houses or something, get you a trade. That way you have something can't nobody take away from you. You go on and learn how to put your hands to some good use. Besides hauling people's garbage" (Wilson 35). His intentions are right, though he won't listen to his son or his wife when they tell him that the world is changing. He's very stubborn. Our current society expects men to provide for his family monetarily and emotionally. I believe Troy could bring home the bacon as he is a dedicated worker. Though, I do not believe he would be emotionally available and loving enough to his family to meet today's standards. Troy's wife told him that his son just wanted his love and acceptance. He said, "Rose, I ain't got time for that. He's alive. He's healthy. He's got to make his own way. I made mine. Ain't nobody gonna hold his hand when he gets out their in that world" (Wilson 39). This was my interpretation of Troy Maxson in the beginning of the play.