Final post--Troys legacy

Troy's legacy remained mostly with his family.  Although he did earn a big promotion at work, "Your daddy got a promotion on the rubbish. He's gonna be the first colored driver (Wilson 45)." That was a big part of Troys legacy.  He cared a lot about money and being able to support his family.  He tried to shape his sons in a way that they would be successful.  He always wanted them to be able to support a family of their own.  That is why he pushed Cory so much. He wanted him to succeed and Cory will always remember Troy as the man who ruined his football career.  "The whole time I was growing up...living in his house...Papa was like a shadow that followed you everywhere. It weighed on you and sunk into your flesh. It would wrap around you and lay there until you couldn't tell which one was you anymore. That shadow digging into your flesh. Trying to crawl in...Everywhere I looked, Troy Maxson was staring back at me..hiding under the bed...in the closet. I'm just saying I've got to get rid of that shadow, Mama (Wilson 97)." This shows a big part of what Troy has left behind with his son.  This is a bad legacy that Troy bad created.  He wanted Cory to do everything his way because that was the "right way". Cory was scared of his father.  He always will be.  He wants to get away from his dad and his former life as much as possible.  Troy will also always be known as the cheating liar to Rose.  Rose wanted so much more out of life but Troy sucked up a majority of it.  All she wanted to do is be with her husband and be a good wife to him.  "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 to Raynell like was all them babies I had wanted and never had...I'm gonna hive her the best of what's in me (Wilson 98)." This shows that even through Troy left her with his dirty business, she took advantage of the situation and mothered Raynell like her own.  Troy's legacy was his children, and the way he fathered them.  By the end of the book, Troy had lost everyone that was close to him. He made a lasting impact on his family and will always be remembered for the father of Raynell, Cory and Lyons. He was known for his strive to give basic necessities to his family, yet remembered for his lack of emotional support.

Happiness

Happiness has different meaning to everyone in Fences. To Cory, happiness means doing the things he loves.  To him love means more than money, which strongly differs with Troy. "I ain't quitting the team. I don't care what Poppa say (Wilson 59)." Cory does not care about what his father things as love as he gets to play football.  He wants to go off the college and get a real chance at the world.  Troy on the other hand believes happiness involves getting what he wants. He wants money and love. When he is with Rose, he has to deal with more responsibilities and duties. He wants more.  This to achieve his own happiness, without caring what is right and what is wrong. "I can sit up in her house and laugh....Rose I can't give that up (Wilson 69)."This shows that Troy is willing to put his loved ones happiness at risk for his own. To Rose, being happy means that he is with the man she loves and being a good wife.  She is also seeking for more love, yet she does not go to extremes as does Troy. "Don't think I ever wanted other things? Don't you think I had dreams and hopes? What about my life? What about me. Don't you think it ever crossed my mind to want to know other men...You not the only one who's got wants and needs (Wilson 71)." This shows that Roses own needs are compromised through their marriage, yet she stays loyal.  Her being content means that she is loyal and with her husband.  This also shows that Troy didn't think about her happiness when making the choice to go and lay with Alberta.  In today's society, happiness is measured by the amount of money and success you have. Yet, money does not always allow for happiness. There are multiple people in today's society who remain happy without money. Everyone has a right to happiness. Yet, some peoples own definition of happiness contradicts with others. In the case of Troy, he resulted in cheating on his wife to achieve happiness. Although this was a wrong, he thought this was the only way he could be happy.  In today's society, there are multiple people who cheat on their significant other.  These people want "more" in life and are not satisfied with what they have. More in today's society than in the book, cheating is strongly frowned upon. Chances are if you have to cheat on your significant other, you are not happy and/or your happiness will come to a sudden stop after you get caught. Other all, happiness is hard to define and differs from person to person. I think true happiness occurs when you can confidently and truthfully put a smile on your face and be satisfied with what you have. 

Evaluation of Troy

Troy is a man that is more interested in making money and fulfilling his duties in the world rather than focusing on his children. He comes from a society whom didn't accept African-Americans and where he could not enjoy much of living. Troy is focused solely on his responsibility in the world. "While you thinking about a TV, I git to be thinking about the roof...and whatever else go wrong around here (Wilson)." In the beginning of the conversation between Cory and Troy, Cory suggests his dad buys a TV. This made Troy upset and rumble off about the roof. Troy is more focused on his house and his money instead of having fun. This shows that Troy is a good man when it comes to supporting his family. On the other side he doesn't have much compassion for others. "It's my job. It's my responsibility! You understand that? You live in my house..sleep you behind on my bedclothes...fill you belly up with 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 (Wilson)." Although he supports his family, he does not care to tell his son he loves him or give him any compassion towards him playing football.  All he wants is his son to be able to support himself.  He cares about his son, yes. He does not in fact want to change his view on the world. He his ignorant to the fact that the world has changed since he was a kid.  He doesn't want his son getting involved in sports when he got shot down. Our current society portrays men as the doer. They work, pay bills, but they also are expected to support their son in sports. They are also more open minded than back then. That is where he faults the most.  I believe that although he is not open minded, he supports his family financially and would break his back to keep a roof over their head.

August Wilson Prompt 1

August Wilson was a necessary playwright whom completed a full cycle of plays about the racism in the African-American community. He incorporated history and always had showed the audience a new way to look at racism throughout the 20th century. August Wilson paved the way for African-American playwrights. He was known for his optimistic endings and for the impact they had socially. In his cycle, there is a play for every decade of African-American culture. His work was a beginning to African-American playwrights. It gave society a new way to look at just a "garage man" or other Black Americans, though August Wilson's eyes. 

August Wilson's legacy shows that the language people use and what they do not use can impact everyone and help them connect. Through the segregation period, people were not used to having plays about the culture and racism of African-Americans. Hearing the actors in the play use socially acceptable words back then, used by a black man was a new beginning for society. August Wilson was not afraid to directly address the flaws throughout history. This is what influenced all of society. He jammed his playwrights with history of the African American. People was able to see the view of history through their eyes. Wilson was able to pave the way towards African-American playwrights, actors while greatly impacting society.