Troy Maxson as the Tragic Hero in Fences Essay

unique character of Troy Maxson in Fences who is unlike any other tragic heroes such as Oedipus, Brutus, etc. Instead, Troy is a noble man who has certain tragic flaws that lead him towards destruction and ruins. The hamartia as exhibited by Troy is his stubbornness, selfishness, and self-centeredness. It is because of these tragic flaws that Troy has to face fall like any other tragic hero. Furthermore, Wilson has successfully made use of metaphors and symbols through the actions and decisions of Maxson that explain his hamartia and other tragedies of life. Troy is a self-centered and anti-social man who values his little restricted world. He has his own restricted and perceptions that are also impacting the quality of life of his family as well. For example, he deliberately ruined Cory’s chance of getting a football scholarship and played at the higher level only because he had the stereotypical perception about Whites as if they will not let his son Cory play with them. He snubbed Cory saying that "The white man ain't gonna let you get nowhere with that football noway." He further explained him saying that "I got sense enough not to let my boy get hurt playing no sports.” Troy refused to believe that society has become more dynamic and has changed significantly (Koprice 352). While actions, words…

character in a tragedy is called the tragic hero. According to Aristotle, the tragic hero has certain qualities that made them a tragic hero. These qualities were, a tragic flaw, a high estate, effect purgation, experience a reversal, and at some point, realize that he/she cannot escape fate. The plays “Othello” and “Fences” are both tragedies, and the two tragic heroes,…

By the mid-1980s in his play Fences, August Wilson created characters who underwent self-inflicted crises in accordance with the classical Greek tradition of a tragedy. A literature tragedy presents sorrowful events caused by a heroic individual, also known as a tragic hero. An Aristotelian tragic hero must possess specific characteristics such as: a flaw or error of judgment, a reversal of fortune and recognition that the reversal was brought about by the hero 's own actions, excessive pride,…

fighting for the Throne of Thebes. Both brothers die in battle, and their sisters, Antigone and Ismene, are grieving. Their uncle Creon has assumed control of Thebes and orders that Eteocles will be honored, and Polyneices will have his memory shamed. His body will lie unburied on the battlefield. Antigone vows to bury her brother Polynices' body in defiance of Creon's order, but Creon has issued a royal order banning the burial of Polyneices, who he believes was a traitor. Antigone breaks the…

Troy Maxson: Good, Bad or Tragic Hero? In August Wilson’s play Fences the protagonist, Troy Maxson, is widely considered to be one of the greatest characters of the American stage (Shmoop Editorial Team). He is a very complex man and leaves one wondering is he good, bad or simply a tragic hero? This is not an easy question to answer on the surface, but, reading and analyzing the play points toward the latter. Troy is quite simply bad at being good. “Troy has a clear-cut case of hamartia. This…

Troy, Rose, and the Maxson Family in Wilson’s Fences Troy Maxson is the main character in Fences and he thought he could be in complete control everyone that was close to him. As being read, it is easy to make the case that August Wilson 's play Fences is a tragedy and that Troy Maxson is its tragic protagonist (Wessling). Troy is a poor black man who once had a dream of becoming a major league baseball player. He never became a major league baseball player, because he was an African American.…

August Wilson’s play Fences was written during the time of racism which lead to deferred dreams, and deferred hopes. Troy Maxson is the husband to Rose Maxson and they share one child Cory Maxson however, Troy has a son from another woman and a little girl from a recent affair with a woman named Alberta. August Wilson’s use of dramatic irony helps provide the readers with full awareness of Troy Maxson and his intentions without Rose being aware yet. Throughout the story Troy is sought to be the…

Troy Maxson the Anti-hero Being a father is one of the life’s struggles that never seems to end for the character, Troy Maxson, his struggles are no different. In the play, Fences, written by August Wilson, Troy demonstrates a hard working husband and father striving to get through the difficult times he is faced with due to his race and age. The result of all the stress led Troy to become a harsh and distant father. Troy Maxson is a prime example of an unhappy, small-minded tragic hero. Troy…

Fences is a play about how African Americans survives in sheds and difficulties they face to find work. Troy Maxson, the protagonist of the play is the son of an unsatisfied sharecropper whose cruelty takes his wife’s and Troy away from him. Troy is taken to prison after he is involved in various crimes like killing and robbing others. During his stay in prison he learns to play baseball and loves it. As time passes he outshines in baseball. After he is out from prison’s discrimination in the…

perceptions on particular topics. One of the topics is tragic hero. Aristotle had his own definition for a tragic hero. According to Aristotle, a tragic hero must be essentially good as a person. The hero must have dignity and personal quality in order to qualify as a tragic figure and then must suffer a downfall through no fault of his own. This relates to the play Fences, and the character, Troy Maxson. Troy is considered a tragic hero after all the events that occur to him. Troy has a…