Tragic Hero In Fences, By August Wilson

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The play Fences, written by August Wilson, tells the story of Troy Maxson and his family during the 1950s. Throughout the novel, Troy attempts to gain power and control on people such as his wife Rose and his son Cory. In the play, Wilson uses Troy’s power struggle to develop him as a tragic hero and to enhance his theme of people isolating themselves from those closet to them. Troy can be seen as a hero who overcame great odds. Though he got in trouble as a young adult, Troy shined as a Negro League baseball player, shown when Bono says “Ain’t but two men ever played baseball as good as you. That’s Babe Ruth and Josh Gibson” (Wilson 9). After his career is over, Troy is still successful, as he supports two children and his wife through his