Troy's Legacy

I think Troy’s legacy is what he left behind to his family, which includes their new learnings about life. Throughout the book, Troy set a standard for his sons and the tough love that he gave them helped his children to become stronger human beings. This can be seen at the end of the book when Cory comes back as a Corporal in the United States Marines. He didn’t chase after his dream of becoming a football player but instead, because of his father’s influence, took a different path in life. Also, Cory stood up for himself against Troy towards the end. To Troy, he says “All you ever did was try and make me scared of you. I used to tremble every time you called my name…” (Wilson 86). This shows how much he's changed since the beginning of the book. It also made him realize that he didn't want to be anything like his father, when he says "I don't want to be Troy Maxson. I want to be me" (Wilson 97). With Rose, her relationship with Troy made her a different person. You can see that at the end when she reflects on her life with him. “I married your daddy and settled down to cooking his supper and keeping clean sheets on the bed. When your daddy walked through the house he was so big he filled it up. That was my first mistake” (Wilson 98). Despite the fact that Troy cheated on her, she did what was best for Raynell and raised her as her own. “Like I’d been blessed to relive a part of my life. And if the Lord see fit to keep up my strength… I’m gonna do her just like your daddy did you… I’m gonna give her the best of what’s in me,” she says (Wilson 98).