Leaving a legacy

Troy left this legacy behind of being a hard worker and providing for his family the basic necessities. In the beginning of the book we realize early on that Troy works hard for his money when he is not willing to give his older son Lyon money. Troy goes on to say, “What’s the matter, you too good to carry people’s rubbish? Where you think that ten dollars you talking about come from? I’m just supposed to haul people’s rubbish and give my money to you cause you too lazy to work. You too lazy to work and you wanna know why you ain't got what I got” (Wilson 17). Troy is hard working man and unless you live in his house he doesn't easily give out his money, but he is happy to help his son get a job so he can work for what he wants. Later on throughout the play we start to see a change in Troy. His job is eating away at him and coming home is just another reminder of how much he has to work to pay and support his family. Which is why Troy finds an interest in Alberta because she is something different, a change in his lifestyle. Just like when Troy says, “I can sit up in her house and laugh. Do you understand what I’m saying. I can laugh out loud…” (Wilson 69). He gets so caught up in his legacy of working hard that he feels he needs something new like cheating on Rose with someone other woman. In the end it doesn't play out well for Troy. He dies of a heart attack when he was outside swinging the bat. Rose states that Troy, “swung it and stood there with this grin on his face…and then he just fell over” (Wilson 96). This little piece that rose says makes me think that maybe Troy wished he had followed a different path and made his legacy with baseball. 

What is "Happiness"?

In the book Fences there are many different examples of what happiness means. I think each individual in the book expresses a different meaning of happiness. For example when we look at Troy we found that happiness to him is being able to be himself and just let loose and laugh like when Troy specifically says, “I can sit up in her house and laugh. Do you understand what I’m saying. I can laugh out loud…and it feels good. It reaches all the way down to the bottom of my shoes. (Pause.) Rose, I can’t give that up” (Wilson 69). Troy is trying to express that this women makes him feel good about himself and that she is helping him start to understand who he really is. With Cory his happiness comes from playing football. It is something he is good at and we see when his dad messes that up for him he is upset about it when he says, “Why you wanna do that to me? That was the one chance I had” (Wilson 57). Society today really over glamorizes happiness. We watch these reality shows that brainwash us into thinking that we need to strive to have a life just like this person or that person to truly reach happiness. I think to really have happiness you need to do things so when you reflect back on them you won’t say “I wish I did things differently” but just live in the moment and experience life. I think these two versions of happiness (in the book and in life) overlap because we see Cory trying to experience life and try something different like going to college and playing football but his dad is holding him back from doing these things because Troy believes getting a job and working is something that will make him happier later on down the road.  

The Man of the House

In this time period a man was more expected to be the “bread winner” meaning they would be the one to have an income and bring food home. While a woman would cook and clean and take of the kids. In the play Troy even states, “Woman… 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….” (Wilson 40). Which shows how he is basically taking care of them and doing what he has to do so the family can eat and have a roof over their head. Troy is overall trying to be a good man, but I wouldn't necessarily say he is a good man all the time. Although Troy doesn't cheat on his wife he is constantly walking around another women’s house as well as buying other women drinks (Wilson 3-4). Troy also likes to lie about things if it weren't for Rose to keep him honest then no one would catch his lies and believe some of the crazy things he says like when he is telling Bono about buying furniture from the “devil” and having to pay him ten dollars every month for fifteen years when in reality he made a deal with a white person (Wilson 15). As all people do Troy has a weakness and his weakness is giving to others more than he has to. For example Troy’s son Cory wants a TV but Troy doesn't feel the need to waste his money on that when he provides Cory with all the necessities like food, clothes and a roof over his head so he told Cory to get a job if he really wants it (Wilson 31-32). Today’s society doesn't expect men to be this big man who makes all the money while his wife stays home with the kids. Instead people strive to be independent so they don’t need to realize on others to help them if they get into a sticky situation. I feel Troy would have a hard time living up to this standard because in a way he likes being the man of the house and in this day and age he wouldn't have to be so he would struggle with that concept.   

Wilson's Legacy

August Wilson was an inspiring person and did many great things in his life before sadly dying of liver cancer in 2005. Before Wilson died he left a legacy behind and one the big things he did was write a cycle of plays (NPR Podcast). This hadn't really been done before because other playwrights died before finishing their cycles so it was a big thing. Many people wanted to work with him and would constantly be playing his plays because of the impact and message they were sending (NPR Podcast). Wilson even had a theater named after him in Virginia. Another part of Wilson’s legacy was the August Wilson Center for African American Culture. The people of Pittsburgh were grateful for Wilson putting their town on the maps because of his work so it was their way of giving back to him so his legacy could live on even after he died (Schackner).

Growing up Wilson had a rough childhood which turned out good for him because of the amazing plays he wrote. His plays expressed a bigger message something the audience could take away and use in real life like the idea of racism. Wilson’s plays would show the struggle that people of color had to deal with whether it was name calling or being treated differently (NPR Podcast). His plays show how race, power, and language all fit together and how they can be a positive or a negative thing depending on how it’s used; for example when Lincoln Brown used the N word in a 6^th grade class to make them consider their own use of the word and to really think before saying anything that could hurt someone’s feelings (Bogira). Brown was trying to do something positive with this idea of race, power, and language but still was penalized for it. Brown didn't care though because his students got the message even if Mason (the principle) did not; Brown new he made a difference and that was all that mattered.