Troy Maxon Character Traits

In August Wilson's play "Fences," Troy Maxon is a protagonist who, despite his difficulties, tries to do right by his family. Although some may see him as the antagonist due to his ability to gain control over his family, Troy is a complex character with an immense need to provide for his family and protect them from the harsh realities of life. Troy is an imperfect character who errs. Troy is a character who persists in trying to do the right thing by his family despite being perceived as an enemy by others due to his personification of death and demons. The protagonist Troy will assert that he represents the human experience of attempting to make one's way in the world.

Troy Maxon has suffered from trauma and experiences that have left him

During the play, Troy describes the pain of prejudice and the breakdown of his once-promising career. He was about to embark on another successful professional baseball career when he ended himself in a job that was a dead end. He is particularly tough on Cory, a gifted athlete who aspires to play college football. Troy doesn’t want Cory to pursue a career in sports because he thinks it’s a dead-end and won’t lead to a better life. Troy expresses his concerns about Cory’s future and explains why he is so overprotective of him. For instance, “See… you swung at the ball and you missed… You got to learn how to take the crookeds with the straights. That’s what Papa used to say.. You got to take the crookeds with the straights” (Wilson 1172). Troy is advising Cory about the harsh realities of life and the significance of being able to deal with disappointment and disappointments. Troy may be seen as an enemy in the play due to his dictatorial nature, yet his approach to parenting may be harsh and critical at

At the beginning of the play, Rose’s relationship seems stable and they are portrayed as a loving couple. Although Troy’s actions and decisions may lead some to view him as an antagonist, it is essential to explore his flaws and admirable qualities to understand his character fully. On one hand, Troy’s stubbornness and inability to accept change lead him to make poor decisions, such as cheating on his wife. For instance, “I gave everything I had to Troy Maxson. And now she..she done gone and found out I been going over to her sister’s. I been going over there for a while now, Rose” (Wilson 1163). Troy’s infidelity is revealed but also his desire for success and fear of failure. Troy uses a flashback technique to be used where the author interrupts the current narrative to provide details of past events. Furthermore, it shows how his inner struggles and flaws have led him to make poor choices that have hurt those closest to him, specifically Rose. To add all, Troy possesses admirable qualities such as his strong work ethic and his desire to provide for his