Evolution of Troy

Troy is the protagonist in August Wilson’s play ‘Fences’. Although he is at first presented as a responsible man who strongly believes in himself, his confidence in the self-created illusions that control his decisions and actions leads to him developing strained relationships and a lot of conflict with the people in his life. Troy’s beliefs are deeply rooted in the illusions that he has created about society and the way it operates as well as his perceived capabilities. As events transpire however, Troy evolves from the optimistic and delusional character who is misled by his personal philosophy to a troubled individual who falls into a life of misery, and eventually death, after he destroys most, if not all of the relationships he has with other members of his community. Although the attitude that Troy has is as a result of the experiences that he has had, the decision to only stick to his beliefs creates a lot of challenges for him. By the end of the story however, Troy comes to the realisation that his approach towards life is not the only way to handle issues that come up in society. This however goes against everything he believed in at the beginning of the story.  

            Despite experiencing great challenges while growing up, Troy is still convinced that he can provide the kind of life he dreams for his family, even with the restrictions that black people are subjected to in the community. His father’s failure as a sharecropper does little to shift his belief in the delusions that govern his life. As a tribute to the Maxon family, Troy builds a bridge joining the south and the north (Keyes 1). The bridge however ends up being used as a tool to further oppress people of colour as it provides better access. To troy, the bridge offers convenience and access to opportunities that exist in both regions. In reality however, the bridge intensifies the issue of slavery that has negatively affected people of colour for generations. The bridge further has a negative impact that Troy has with his sons as it acts as proof that Troy’s delusions about society have been misplaced (Keyes 1). The exposure created by the bridge reveals to his sons that Troy’s belief that people have the means and freedom to achieve their dreams without any unfair restrictions is based on wishful thinking as blacks face a lot of unjust restrictions. Troy’s delusion also affects the way he perceives relationships with his partner and his employers. His determination to only view things the way he imagines them in his head rather than observing actual trends makes it difficult for him to maintain normal relationships.

A good example is the expectation that his partner should be responsible and lead a practical life that is in line with the morals and principles that govern the society he lives in (Stephens 18). The restrictions are however limited to his loved ones as he believes it is possible for him to have an affair without it having negative consequences on his marriage. Troy’s delusions mislead him into thinking that he can do as he pleases, even if his actions go against constructs that have governed society for generations. The delusions that govern Troy’s life are responsible for the strained relationships that he has with his family and other members of the community. Another example is the case when Cory, Troy’s son, gets the chance to go to college on a football scholarship (Wilson, 77). Despite it being a shared passion between Cory and his father, Troy discourages the idea and focuses more on discouraging his son rather than offering support. The negative attitude that Troy has is as a result of the experiences he had as a pro baseball player in the negro leagues (Wilson 78). After experiencing racial discrimination, Troy has developed a negative attitude and shares the same opinion with his family. His fears prevent him from allowing his son to pursue his dreams as he is convinced that Cory will face the same form of discrimination.

            Troy succumbs to the challenges and hardships that arise from his determination to only follow what he believes in, rather than basing his decisions on facts. His last name, Maxson is made by combining the names Mason and Dixon which are used in reference to an imaginary line used in his community to separate states occupied by slaves and free states. The name is thus an indication that Troy had the tendency to live his life between two contrasting ideas. On the one hand, his experiences give him hope for a better future that is achieved through determination and hard work (Stephens 13). On the other hand, however, his experiences have made him cautious due to the various disappointments he has encountered. Unlike other characters in the play, Troy is determined to live a life according to his beliefs, regardless of whether they are based on wishful thinking and lack of proper understanding of how his society functions. The bridge he built for instance makes it easier for him to witness forms of racism not only in his community but other regions as well. While he was oblivious to the hardships that people of colour were facing, his experiences in the negro leagues prove that racism is still a major factor, despite his belief that society offers equal opportunities. He also learns the importance of living under the same principles he sets for others.

The events that transpire force Troy to stop following his delusions and pushes him to live in the real world where decisions are based on constructs that govern society rather than personal beliefs. The affair that Troy has also teaches him the importance of living under the same principles he uses to judge others in the community. The relationship he has with his son forces him to rethink why he is against Cory playing football. The experiences that Troy has are as a result of the delusions that he relies on to define life. It is not until he shifts his focus from his misconceptions, allowing him to develop a better understanding of life.

 

 

 

Work cited

Keyes, Allison. “Troy Maxson: Heart, heartbreak as big as the world” NPR, 2008

Stephens, Johannes. “Recognizing Fences: Troy Maxson’s identity politics” München GRIN        Verlag, 2007

Wilson, August. “Fences” Penguin Publishing Group, 2007 print