Troy's Unsympathetic Character In Fences By August Wilson

In the play Fences by August Wilson, Troy Maxson presents as the protagonist. He is an unsympathetic character who seems to hurt all those around him with his aggressive persona. Troy is a selfish man, with a one sided perception on life which made him unable to accept the choices others made. Due to his upbringing, Troy is unable to show love in a normal fashion. Instead, he blocks his family out by using a harsh exterior, emotionally excluding himself from his underlying love. This play was set in the 1950’s, an era when racism was indeed an issue. August Wilson used this play to show the struggles a black man had to endure while trying to make it in a white man’s world during this time. Troy Maxson was an African American who believes his

Troy not only disapproves of his son Cory playing football, but he also disagrees with his oldest son Lyons aspirations of becoming a musician. We see this when Troy states “get recruited in how to fix cars or something where he can make a living”. Instead of focusing on sports, he believes Cory should pick up a trade that can provide an income for his future. Cory is a talented athlete just like his dad, but due to Troy’s dreams being shattered by the white man, his outlook is tainted. Although Troy is predominantly aggressive, he is attempting to protect Cory from the same disappointment he once endured. When Troy decides not to sign the recruitment papers it illustrates his insensitivity. Troy is a man surrounded by many loved ones but due to selfish ways he is unable to sustain a healthy

His aggressive attitude steams from his past experiences. He had a rough upbringing, experiencing many hardships at a young age. Troy had an abusive father who he referred to as “evil” and an absent mother. This forced him to move out at the young age of fourteen, making him to grow into a man. When Troy’s past gets brought up, he states “sometimes I wish I hadn’t known my daddy…A kid wasn’t nothing. All he wanted was for you to learn to walk so he could start you to working. When it come time for eating…he ate first. If there was anything left over, that’s what you got”. With that being said, not only did this mold his character but it also impacted the relationship he has with his children. As a child, his father never showed him affection, therefore he is unable to replicate. Although Troy is a protective and loving father, he is unable to show these emotions due to his past experience. Troy never learned how to treat others, especially those close to him. Instead, his past hinders his present, destroying every loving relationship he has