One of the most resembling characteristics of a perfect woman is that she is extremely resilient. Whatever the situation may arise in a fam¬¬ily, women are the ones who handle it effectively and keep the family together. In the play ‘Fences’ by August Wilson, Rose – the wife of Troy Maxon, is a very patient and altruistic character. She resembles a woman who is always ready to sacrifice for her family. In order to keep her family from breaking apart she resists even the biggest mistake of her husband - getting another woman pregnant almost 18 years after their marriage. Many people may argue that Rose is an anti-feminist character who resists whatever her husband throws upon her deliberately but she is doing it for her own as well as family’s sake. She is the only reason her family has not broken apart. She is also depicted as a very caring character in the play. She shows unconditional love and care for the children that Troy has from his previous wife, as well as his affair with Alberta. Rose never takes any extreme step which may hamper her family’s unity. Rose’s behavior is not seen often in today’s societies because feminism has come into action. Although such as a careless act of her husband is considered a pure discrimination towards women, in many cultures it can be taken as an attribute of a strong and independent woman. Hence, Rose is a very appealing character who is unconditionally generous and a very responsible woman. Rose’s husband, Troy, is a very oppressive character who is solely responsible for many of her miseries. Even after realizing Rose’s generous nature, he never truly cares for her. Troy, as a male character, shows a very powerful and dominating behavior entailing discrimination towards female character, Rose (Shah 80). When Rose intrudes on Troy to offer Bono some food, Troy deliberately insults her and says not to stay between men’s talk (Wilson 1054). He then sexually remarks her in front of his own friend by saying, “I got some talk for you later. You know what kind of talk I mean. You go on and powder it up” (1054). Women’s behavior towards such acts of men is also very critical as she may be herself responsible for her own discrimination (Shah 79). Rose is left with no other option than getting supressed in her husband’s cruelty as going against him may not prove to be beneficial for her family. Many people have considered this repressed characteristic of Rose like many other women, reflecting women’s discrimination in the 1950s. However, this kind of behaviour was considered as loyalty to the husband, which kept many women like Rose from raising any voice against their husbands. Rose is a typical housewife of the 1950s, who is willing to make any kind of sacrifice for her family, even getting restrained under her husband. Many times the one who is the most generous is also the one who suffers the most. Rose’s innocent nature makes her the victim of her husband’s dark side. In the play, Troy takes inundate advantage of the Rose’s generosity. He deliberately involves in an affair with a woman named Alberta, even though his friend Bono suggests him several times not to betray his loyal wife. Obstinate with nature, Troy, neglects his friend’s advice, and makes Alberta pregnant. “Troy’s abrogation of his well-earned disciple loses him not only the fruits of his adult life’s work but damages those about whom he cares most, fragmenting his family and causing Alberta to die giving birth to their illegitimate child ”
…show more content…
She is a very strong and self-reliant woman. Troy’s behaviour, which was a result of his wretched childhood and many problems he faced in his earlier life, is responsibly handled by Rose. Although giving too much freedom to Troy later creates her own misery in the play, she never complaints about it. She is a woman who always goes with the flow and never looks back. She tolerates even the biggest mistakes of Troy like adultery. But, Rose’s tolerance was essential for her family’s unity. Hence, Rose’s patience and sacrifices keeps her family from getting apart throughout the play even after the demise of her haughty
She is a very strong and self-reliant woman. Troy’s behaviour, which was a result of his wretched childhood and many problems he faced in his earlier life, is responsibly handled by Rose. Although giving too much freedom to Troy later creates her own misery in the play, she never complaints about it. She is a woman who always goes with the flow and never looks back. She tolerates even the biggest mistakes of Troy like adultery. But, Rose’s tolerance was essential for her family’s unity. Hence, Rose’s patience and sacrifices keeps her family from getting apart throughout the play even after the demise of her haughty