Troy Maxson's Contributions

Through Troy’s actions and words, his legacy was defined for not only himself but the others around him. This quote that states “What we do for ourselves dies with us. What we do for others and the world remains & is immortal,” offers a clear perspective on the exact legacy that Troy left behind. He left behind an imagine of hard work, standing strong for your beliefs, and ultimately the idea of making yourself happy by taking care of not only the people around you, but yourself as well.

We see his lasting impact on Cory even after Troy dies in Act two scene five. Cory talks about why he doesn't want to attend Troy’s funeral to Rose. “I can’t drag Papa with me everywhere I go. I've got to say no to him. One time in my life I've got to say no” (Wilson 96). We see that Troy’s interactions with Cory while he was alive were likely based on Troy’s thinking of the greater good. Troy stopped Cory from playing football and wanted him to work instead, probably because of his own life experiences and racial discrimination in the past. This had a lasting impact on Cory because his hatred for what his Dad thought was good for him grew. Moreover, Cory expresses his fear of disappointing or making his dad angry in act two scene four. Cory tells Troy, “You ain’t never gave me nothing! You ain’t never done nothing but hold me back. Afraid I was gonna be better than you. I used to tremble every time you called my name” (Wilson 86). Cory’s relationship with his dad was based upon the legacy Troy left behind. He even considered not going to his funeral which shows the significance in Troy’s actions while alive and how it carried on even after he died.

                Troy shaped, developed, and ultimately left behind is legacy throughout Fences by how he portrayed himself and how his decisions were based upon his morals. For example, even though Troy was viewed as the “breadwinner” or “head of the household,” he admitted to cheating on Rose. He told Rose that he wasn't happy around the house since he had to worry so much. He worried about the bills and the maintenance around the house. This really hurt Rose because she mentioned that she had feelings of being happy, like Troy, but stayed committed to the marriage. However, even after the love triangle with Alberta and the birth of Raynell, Rose still felt the legacy that Troy left behind. It was the idea of what’s best for people. We see this in act two scene five when Rose talks to Cory, “Your daddy wanted you to be everything he wasn't… and at the same time he tried to make you into everything he was. I don’t know if he was right or wrong… but I do know he meant to do more good than he meant to do harm. He wasn't always right. Sometimes when he touched he bruised” (Wilson 97). This quote is significant, because it supports Troy’s decisions while he was alive. He wanted what was best for his family, so he worked hard, maintained the household, made hasty decisions towards Gabriel and Cory, and ultimately was there for them. He however wanted to make himself happy, which wasn't always right. This is where he cheated and messed around with Alberta. That’s where the “Sometimes when he touched he bruised,” comes into play. He left behind a legacy of making the right decisions to either make the people around you better and happy or sometimes 

yourself.

                Troy was able to make this imagine throughout Fences by his interactions with his family, his transparency with his reasoning, and his everyday decisions. Troy’s decision for Alberta was besides the fact. Rose’s positive outlook to Cory connected to the part of the quote that says “What we do for ourselves dies with us.” She overlooked what Troy did and what weighed more in the end was what Troy did as a father, brother, Husband and friend.