Fences: A Comparison Of Troy And Willy Loman

August Wilson’s play Fences shares several similarities with Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman. The biggest parallel I found between the two works was the portrayal and actions of both Troy and Willy Loman. Personally, I find the similarities between their names to be the most interesting attribute of both characters. For example, Willy’s last name “Loman” is significant as it contradicts how he portrays himself while also presenting his place in society. Willy’s greatest fear would be to be seen by others as a low man. However, as the play proceeds the audience soon learns that Willy is not nearly the man he talks himself up to be. After reflecting on this aspect of Willy’s character, I decided to research the meaning behind Troy Maxson’s name. I discovered that the name Maxson is an amalgamation of Mason and Dixon. This refers to the Mason-Dixon line which separated the slave states from the free states. This is significant as it establishes the theme of racial tension throughout the …show more content…
This is significant as it often leads to tension as their differing ideals clash. It is also why both sons are deeply affected by the actions of their fathers. In Fences, this tension is important as it functions to establish the main conflict throughout the play. Much like Willy, Troy is unable to put the past behind him. He allows his own experiences with discrimination to hinder his support for his son. He is so caught up in the racial tensions of his time that he is unable to see any potential in his son’s ability to play football professionally. Here, Troy intentionally keeps Cory from living out his “American Dream.” This is significant as Troy uses Cory’s race as a defense to treat him the same way he was treated as he attempted to live out his dream as a baseball player. Therefore, neither society nor Cory’s own doing lead to his downfall, but the interference of his