Troy's Legacy

     What will we remember from Troy Maxson? His legacy is defined through his actions. After reading throughout the whole play Fences, I believe that Troy’s legacy he left behind had more positive than negative. I will explain the positive attributes Troy left behind. Troy starts out in the beginning of the play kind of fooling around with another girl but they down play that until the end. There are parts of the play that explain how he is trying to be the best father that he can be and provide his children with what he never had. A legacy is what someone leaves behind when they are no longer present on earth. I believe that Troy will be remembered for all of his handwork, honesty, a father figure, a best friend, and the respect he gave and received. Troy faced a lot of controversies in this play such as an abusive father, a mother who abandoned him, a wife who is demanding, an unexpected child from another woman, inequality in the work place, and disrespect from his children at times. He stood up for what he believed in. For example, “A Negro go in there and can’t get no kind of service. I seen a white fellow come in there and order a bowl of stew. Pope picked all the meat out of the pot for him. Man ain't had nothing but a bowl of meat. Negro come behind him and ain't got nothing but the potatoes and carrots” (Wilson, 23). Troy doesn't respect this idea because he works just as hard, if not harder for all his money and everything he owns. Troy is one of the most hardworking men and he will leave that behind as well. His children will get to grow up and remember that they had a lot more than they thought. . “I do the best I can do. I come in here every Friday. I carry a sack of potatoes and a bucket of lard. You all line up at the door with your hands out. I give you the lint from my pockets. I give you my sweat and my blood. I ain't got no tears. I don’t spent them. We go upstairs in that room at night…and I fall down on you and try to blast a hole into forever. I get up Monday morning…find my lunch on the table. I go out. Make my way. Find my strength to carry me through to next Friday. That’s all I got to give. I can’t give nothing else” (Wilson, 40). Troy gave it his all in everything that he did. To answer the question in one sentence as to what Troy’s legacy is, I would say Troy’s legacy is to do what you love, and the rest will come. He did what he wanted, he believed in what he wanted, and he acted how he wanted. He was very strategic with his money because they had a scarce amount. For example, when Cory wanted to buy a TV with money he didn't have, Troy brought up the fact that their roof hasn't been redone in a while. “Two hundred and sixty-four dollars...cash money. While you thinking about a TV, I got to be thinking about the roof...and whatever else go wrong around here. Now if you had two hundred dollars, what would you do…fix the roof or buy a TV?” “I’d buy a TV. Then when the roof started to leak…when it needed fixing…I’d fix it.” “Where you gonna get the money from? You done spent it for a TV. You gonna sit up and watch the water run all over your brand new TV” (Wilson, 32). This is a lesson he taught his son. Money needs to be managed. You can infer that Troy would love to have a TV but instead he has to think logically. Another legacy he left behind as that no matter what the consequence is, you must own up to your problems. He came forward and told Rose that he had been sleeping with another girl and got her pregnant. Although it was a bad situation, he came forth and showed responsibility for his action. Troy’s legacy he left behind is that no matter what the circumstance is, pursue what you want, manage your money, work hard to get what you don’t have, and self-happiness is important.

     Troy tries to teach his children to work because during this time period, no matter how hard they try, work is something they can’t take from African Americans. They may get treated like they’re less important but at the end of the day, they will have a reliable source of income. Troy wants to have Cory go back and get his job at the A&P. Also he tries to persuade Lyons to get a job. He offers to work at the rubbish with himself because he needs to make his own money.

Another thing that Troy teaches his kids is responsibility. “It’s my job. It’s my responsibility! You understand that? A man got to take care of his family. You live in my house...sleep you behind on my bedclothes…fill you belly up with my food…cause you my son. You my flesh and blood. Not ‘cause I like you! Cause it’s my duty to take care of you. I owe a responsibility to you!” (Wilson, 38). This is when Cory asked why Troy doesn't like him. You can tell that he does like him, he just wants to teach him what is best. He wants Cory to succeed and have more than he ever had, and never go through what he went through. “I don’t want him to be like me! I want him to move as far away from my life as he can get. You the only decent thing that ever happened to me. I wish him that. But I don’t wish him a thing else from my life” (Wilson, 39). Troy always put everyone before himself. He would go to work, pay the bills, provide love to Rose, lend money to Lyons, support Cory and give him a place to stay, and kept Gabriel from going to a mental institute. He was a good father even though he didn't have a good father. That shows a lot about his character and how he wants to be remembered. He didn't do it for the glory, or the fame. He did it because he knew what it felt like to be abandoned, abused, forgotten, and on his own.

     In Act 1, Scene 4 there was a conversation between Bono, Troy, and Lyons. It was about how their father’s treated them and how they never wanted their kids to be treated that way. “Sometimes I wish I hadn't known my daddy. He ain't cared nothing about no kids. A kid to him wasn't nothing. All he wanted was for you to learn how to walk so he could start you to working. When it come time for eating…he ate first. If there was anything left over, that’s what you got. Many would sit down and eat two chickens and give you the win” (Wilson, 50). Troy tried to disconnect himself from every characteristic his father possessed. Troy left at a young age because he was abandoned by his father mentally and one time he was left in the field beaten and left to die. When he came through he went on his way with nothing and had to make something of it. Telling Lyons this story will be something that is never going to be forgotten. “That’s a heavy story, Pop. I didn’t know you left home when you was fourteen” (Wilson, 53). At the end of the conversation Rose pops into the scene and Troy says, “I’m telling Lyons how good he go it. He don’t know nothing about this I’m talking” (Wilson, 54). This just goes to show that Troy looks out for his children and wants the best for them. Troy leaves behind that he wants ownership of everything and nothing stands in his way. He talks to “death” a few times and all the times that he did he would say “it’s between you and me now” (Wilson, 89).

     Troy starts out in the beginning of the play as a loyal husband to Rose. He looks to keep her happy, he pays the bills, he comes home and eats the home cooked meal prepared by her and then goes up to sleep with her. In the very last scene, Cory tries to tell his Mom that he will not be attending his father’s funeral and she says, “You can’t be nobody by who you are, Cory. That shadow wasn't nothing but you growing into yourself. You either got to grow into it or cut it down to fit you. But that’s all you got to make life with. That’s all you got to measure yourself against the world out there. Your daddy wanted you to be everything he wasn't…and at the same time he tried to make you everything he was. I don’t know if he was right or wrong…but I do know he meant to do more good than harm. He wasn't always right. Sometimes when he touched he bruised. And sometimes when he took me in his arms he cut. When I first met your daddy I thought…he’s the man I can lay down with and make a baby. That’s the first thing I thought when I seen him. I was thirty years old and had done seen my share of men. But when he walked up to me and said, “I can dance a waltz that’ll make you dizzy,” I thought, Rose Lee, here is a man that you can open yourself up to and be filled with bursting. Here is a man that can fill all them empty spaces and been tipping around the edges of. One of them empty spaces was being somebody’s mother. 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. Not to make him leave some room for me. For my part in the matter. But at that time I wanted that. I wanted a house that I could sing in and that’s what your daddy gave me. I didn't know to keep up his strength I had to give pieces of mine. I did that. I took on his life as mine and mixed up the pieces so that you couldn't hardly tell which was mine anymore. By the time Raynell came into the house, me and your daddy had done lost touch with one another. I didn't want to make my blessing off of nobody’s misfortune…but I took on Raynell like she was all them babies I had wanted and never had. Like I’d been blessed to relive a part of my life. And if the Lord see it fit to keep u- 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” (Wilson, 98). This couldn't be a more perfect example as to what Troy was like. Within this long quote it is saying how Troy gave more than he received, and regardless of what he wanted, he put Rose first. He provided for the family, gave them laughter, happiness, and a worry free life. You couldn't tell that times were rough for Troy because he was the mold of the family who kept it running smoothly. He left a strong legacy on the family and that is to be the man you wish to see in the mirror. Don’t live a life you don’t want to, don’t try to do too much, but enjoy the life you live because in the end, that is all you will ever get. 

Happiness Within

     In the text Fences, we recently read about how Troy came forward and told Rose he has been sleeping with another women. It happens to be a little too late, and he will be a father. The way he said it, there was not much remorse and you could tell that this is what he wanted. “Rose…now listen to me…we can get a handle on this thing. We can talk this out…come to an understanding” (Wilson, 68). He said we can come to an understanding. That isn't really looking at the way she would feel when he was sleeping with another woman. The way he said it was in a way that he knows it is messed up but he felt it was right. He said, “I ain't ducking the responsibility of it. As long as it sets right in my heart…then I’m okay. Cause that’s all I listen to. It’ll tell me right from wrong every time. And I ain't talking about doing Rose no bad turn. I love Rose. She done carried me a long ways and I love and respect her for that” (Wilson, 63). In this conversation between Troy and Bono, Bono is trying to convince Troy he owes it to Rose to tell her, and that she is the best wife he will ever come across. Troy doesn't feel like it is that wrong because he is starting to look for inner happiness. Rose is an outstanding wife, but he stated when he is with this other women that he can get away from the pressures and problems. “It’s just…She gives me a different idea…a different understanding about myself. I can step out of this house and get away from the pressures and problems...be a different man. I ain't got to wonder how I’m gonna pay the bills or get the roof fixed. I can just be a part of myself that I ain't never been” (Wilson, 69). By looking at Troy’s point of view and happiness, it means that when he is with this girl, all his problems go away because he no longer has to take care of the house payments, provide food, and shelter. At her house, that is her responsibility. Troy wasn't thinking about Rose’s happiness. Happiness to Troy means carefree, stress free, and just laughs and giggles. Troy is one of those guys who likes to live two lives. A business type of life, and a freedom type of life. Having this other girl allows him to have both sides. He knows in his heart that Rose is a great wife and has done everything in her power and will to keep everyone happy, but Troy wants more. He feels unappreciated and like he does everything in the house. “I give you the lint from my pockets. I give you my sweat and blood.  I ain't got no tears. I done spent them” (Wilson, 40). Basically he was saying that he would give anything and everything he had to Rose and put forth full effort to provide for her. You can tell that he is kind of tired of doing the same thing every day. Troy is seeking individual happiness and to him that means sneaking off and leaving his problems behind. 

     Our society presents happiness in a way of doing what you love. However, our society revolves around money. They say money can’t buy you happiness. That statement is true, you can’t buy love or friends. It is wrong in a lot of ways though. Those who have a lot of money have a lot less stress in their lives. A financially stable family has a higher chance at surviving than a lower income family. They can go out to dinner whenever they please, they can sit in a warm house during a cold winter, buy a dog for company, or even just live in a fancy environment. I’m not saying people are materialistic. In reality, the more money you have, the happier you’ll be. Looking at Tumblr which is a social media site, you see all these “relationship goals”, “house goals”, and “family goals” which is what everyone is striving for. They are over glamorized. You see things in the movies and on TV, praying and hoping to one day have all of that, so we try to live up to it and sometimes it is just not happening. I looked at the quote that says, “It’s not selfish to love yourself, take care of yourself, & to make your happiness a priority. It’s necessary.” I agree with that quote completely because it is saying how if you don’t have happiness for yourself, what makes you think you can make someone else happy? You have to like the reflection in the mirror before you try to make someone else happy. Your happiness is a priority and will benefit both you and your loved ones. Our society presents happiness in a way that if you go to school, get a good education and later a good profession then you will come across a wife, start a family, and be able to provide for her. On TV and in movies, happiness is not portrayed accurately because it makes it seem like you can just have anything and everything that you see which is far from. In our society now a days you have to work twice as hard with the economy rising. Another way that our society defines happiness is by what you do with your time. Whether it is giving back to the community, spending time with friends and families while making new memories, gaining possessions you wanted since you were little, or going out to dinner and having a nice feast.

     Going back to the play, Troy puts his happiness in this situation before Rose’s. Rather than breaking the marriage off or talking to Rose about wanting more than their relationship, he went off and slept with another women. He is now in way too deep. He was seeking happiness through freedom of paying bills and providing for a family. In the play when he was talking to his son Cory, Cory suggested that Troy buys a TV. Troy seemed to get mad and brought up that their roof above their head hasn't been done in a while and he would rather they have shelter than entertainment. He is looking into the future rather than living in the present. I don't believe that happiness is a right because it is not in the constitution specifically. However, I do believe that happiness is something that is determined by your outlook on life. Happiness is self-created and the destination for your happiness is in your own hands. Although you can't just go out and get a bunch of money, there are things you can do to better your finances such as get a job, work more hours, and money management.  In society now we have a lot more technology and TV brings happiness to some people because it is a source of entertainment that brings the family together. This overlaps with our societies ideas of happiness because it revolves around money. Troy is not happy in his situation because he has to worry about the future rather than live present and be happy. A difference between the two is Troy is trying to run from reality, while in reality you can’t just run. You have to face the problem and work around it. Society’s version of happiness is providing, and affording where we live. Troy’s version of happiness is freedom and no worries. That is where they differ. 

Troy and societal standards

      To answer the first question, I believe that the society has different expectations depending on where you come from, what you look like, and how you act. What I mean by that is if you were white, you didn't have to be that good at a sport to get playing time, whereas if you are black you have to be twice as good. Also I believe that the society gives an easy way to the white people because they have all the power. Power in this, meaning wealth. Even when a black man becomes wealthy, he knows to dedicate his time and money to the white people because of ranking. “A Negro go in there and can’t get no kind of service. I seen a white fellow come in there and order a bowl of stew. Pope picked all the meat out of the pot for him. Man ain't had nothing but a bowl of meat. Negro come behind him and ain't got nothing but the potatoes and carrots” (Wilson, 23). In that section, a black man won the lottery, opened up a restaurant, and served meat to white people (expensive), and a bowl of potatoes and carrots to the black community. This is just the way society was set up back in the day. Siding with white people, or the wealthy will result in slightly better treatment and more of their money.

      For the second part, I do believe that Troy is a good man. However, he also thinks he is the only one who has problems. It seems as if he is exhausted in effort but Rose and his children don’t see it. In Act 1, Scene 3 it says “I give you the lint from my pockets. I give you my sweat and blood.  I ain't got no tears. I done spent them” (Wilson, 40). Basically he was saying that he would give anything and everything he had to Rose and put forth full effort to provide for her. You can tell that he is kind of tired of doing the same thing every day. He is barely surviving and working all the time to provide. One of the weaknesses that I see is he puts more pressure on himself than necessary. Troy overall is a good man but he does have a lot of areas that I could see myself getting mad at him as a wife. He seems to be drunk a lot. I believe that he is drunk to relieve the stress he has. Rose does not like it when he drinks because he becomes vulgar which is kind of a weakness in my opinion. “Don’t you come by my house Monday morning talking about time to go to work… ‘cause I’m still gonna be stroking!” “”Troy! Stop it now!” (Wilson, 20). Also Bono foreshadows that he was buying multiple drinks for another woman which does not make him a good person. Overall, he cares about his children and wants them to be successful in life which is why he wants them to work. He doesn’t want them to end up like himself who has to put in every last breath into everything. “I don’t want him to be like me! I want him to move as far away from my life as he can get. You the only decent thing that ever happened to me. I wish him that. But I don’t wish him a thing else from my life. I decided seventeen years ago that boy wasn't getting involved in no sports. Not after what they did to me in sports” (Wilson, 39). That is one of his strengths. He is a father who wants his children to live a better life then he did. That is also why he wouldn't give Lyons the money. He wants him to work for it and quit being dependent on him.

      Currently, societal standards for men are that they are macho. They go to work, come home and cook dinner for their spouse, and go to bed. That doesn't mean that women don’t do the same. Stereo-typically, the men are the ones who “provide” for the family. I personally think that Troy would live up to standards in society now. He is such a hardworking man. You can see it when he is giving his spiel to Rose. “I do the best I can do. I come in here every Friday. I carry a sack of potatoes and a bucket of lard. You all line up at the door with your hands out. I give you the lint from my pockets. I give you my sweat and my blood. I ain't got no tears. I don’t spent them. We go upstairs in that room at night…and I fall down on you and try to blast a hole into forever. I get up Monday morning…find my lunch on the table. I go out. Make my way. Find my strength to carry me through to next Friday. That’s all I got to give. I can’t give nothing else” (Wilson, 40). This is a quote that demonstrates thoroughly that he is a hardworking man and meets the standard of today’s society. Work, come home, sleep, work, repeat day in and day out. 

August Wilson's Legacy

August Wilson’s legacy is all around. His plays are all about the black struggle in 20^th-century America. He once said “I think my plays offer (white Americans) a different way to look at black Americans,” Fourteen days after Wilson’s death, the Virginia Theatre in New York City’s Broadway Theater District was renamed the August Wilson Theatre. It was the first Broadway theatre to bear the name of an African-American. Streets have been named after him, scholarships have been provided, and buildings have been named after him. August Wilson changed the societal views of African-Americans, allowing their voices to be heard. Growing up wasn’t easy for him. “As the only African American student in school, he was constantly threatened and harassed, so he left just before the end of his freshman year” (Biographical Sketch of August Wilson). “In 1960, at age 15, Wilson dropped out of Gladstone after a teacher accused him of plagiarizing his 20-page paper on Napoleon” (Biographical Sketch of August Wilson). He was passionate toward the African-American experience in the 20^th century. The legacy of August Wilson lives on through the places, streets, and scholarships named after him, as well as his famous plays. Growing up he didn’t have the most promising life but he continued to succeed in doing what he loved- writing.

August Wilson’s legacy reveals a larger message about how race, power, and language intersect in the United States because he was not treated very fair growing up. He was accused of plagiarizing, harassed, and threatened because he was the only African-American attending the school. Race, power, and language intersect in the United States. For example: “Ralph Nader characterized candidate Barack Obama as ‘half African American’ and accused Obama of wanting to ‘talk white’ (Language, Power, and the Performance of Race and Class). This is saying that Ralph Nader thinks that since Obama is “half African-American” that he is supposed to act and speak as if he is one or the other. “Race is more fundamentally about power” (Language, Power, and the Performance of Race and Class). It is misleading to say that race is about physical appearance. It is about the power you hold. People often classify the way you speak with how much education you have, how old you are, and where you grew up. For instance, “he don’t got none” and “he doesn’t have any” (Language, Power, and the Performance of Race and Class). The two utterances have similar meanings but we tend to associate the first form with speakers who have less education and social status than speakers who use the second form. I found it interesting that there are stereo-typical language-based judgments of social class status and the overlapping of race and ethnicity. “‘African-American’ or ‘Latino’ are generally associated with lower socioeconomic status” (Language, Power, and the Performance of Race and Class). In the article, “Language, Power, and the Performance of Race and Class” it talks a lot about how the way you speak, how you define yourself, and how society views you. It ties together with August Wilson because it demonstrates how language and power connect with race and language. The way you speak depends on a few factors: where you live, how you grew up, your education, gender, your age, and social status.