Introduction
The trauma brought on by systematic racism can be seen throughout generations, seeping into the consciousness of people even if they do not notice its effects in their daily lives. In some cases, the remnants of past experiences haunt one’s life, affecting not only individuals but also whole families and communities. The play “Fences,” written by August Wilson, follows Troy Maxson, a 53-year-old black man whose shattered dreams of becoming a professional baseball player led him to ruin his wife’s and sons’ dreams.
The story explores the life of one household, but it speaks about a major problem of racism and segregation, which have created long-standing divisions between white and black Americans. It also shows how the effects of systemic discrimination remain in place even after the laws change, staying in one’s mind rather than reality. Troy, the protagonist of “Fences,” is unsatisfied with his life and uses his negative perceptions of the world to protect his children from the same fate, but in doing so, he harms his family’s dreams.
Abandoned Dream of Becoming a Professional Baseball Player
Troy’s current life is different from what he dreamed of as a younger man. After tough times and wrong decisions, the man has found his dream career in baseball, playing in the Negro League baseball and showing promising results. Bono, Troy’s best friend of many years, exclaims, “Ain’t but two men ever played baseball as good as you. That’s Babe Ruth and Josh Gibson,” highlighting the level of his skills (Wilson 9). However, Troy’s response is similarly telling, “What it ever get me?” (Wilson 9).
As he was not accepted into Major League Baseball, where he could have reached new heights, he left sports and became a trash collector after being released from prison. Now, he can support his family and live a peaceful life, but the inability to realize his potential hardens the man and creates a deep-rooted dissatisfaction. This inability to fulfill his dream also changes Troy’s view of the world, as the man convinces himself that African Americans cannot achieve success in the same way as white people.
The characters discuss the changes in the world and in baseball, but Troy refuses to see them, still affected by the racism he was exposed to as a young man. His young son, Cory, wants to be an athlete as well and comes to Troy to tell him about a college football scholarship. Troy refuses to hear him out, stating that “the white man ain’t gonna let him get nowhere with that football” (Wilson 8).
His wife, Rose, points out that “times have changed since you was playing baseball, Troy … They got lots of colored boys playing ball now” (Wilson 9). However, Troy cannot accept this idea, thinking about the time when he and other black men were not allowed to play in the same leagues as white men. This inability to change reveals the deep hurt Troy feels – his vision of the world is already formed as cruel and unjust, and his loved ones’ arguments cannot alter it.
The play is ambiguous about Troy’s inability to reach the Major Leagues, unlike Troy, who is sure his blackness is the only barrier. Throughout the play, it is clear that Troy believes his being African American is the sole reason he is not a professional baseball player. However, as the story unveils, Rose challenges this idea, “Troy, why don’t you admit you was too old to play in the major leagues?” (Wilson 39).
The reader may have thought that Troy was denied the opportunity in his twenties, but Rose’s next exclamation shows a different age, “How’s was you gonna play ball when you were over forty?” (Wilson 39). Troy contests, saying he “just wasn’t the right color” (Wilson 39). This scene creates a complicated story for the man, who staunchly believes his opinion is correct. This self-assuredness also significantly affects how Troy interacts with his family.
Impact of the Shattered American Dream on the Family
Sons
The most obvious impact of Troy’s mindset is seen in his conflict with Cory throughout the play. The boy’s main dream is to go to college and play football, just as Troy did when he was younger. Therefore, the father is convinced that his son will meet the same fate – his talents will not be recognized, and Cory will be unable to support himself and his future wife financially. When Cory wants to take a break from his job and focus on football, Troy states, “The white man ain’t gonna let you get nowhere with that football noway” (Wilson 35).
While his decision to make Cory get his job back is strict, the following phrase exposes his true feelings: “That way you have something can’t nobody take away from you” (Wilson 35). Deeply hurt, Troy does not see his refusal to let Cory pursue his dream as a wrong decision. Instead, the man may believe he is protecting his son from harm he experienced many years ago. Here, the reader can see how racism creates a ripple effect for generations.
In the end, Troy is unable to change his ways, and his actions lead to Cory losing his chance for a scholarship, ruining the boy’s ability to pursue his passion. Cory tells his mother, “Papa done went up to the school and told Coach Zellman I can’t play football no more” (Wilson 57). This action prohibits Cory from pursuing football and college, although he has an opportunity to play and study. Following an argument and a fight, Cory leaves the house and enters the military. His life has been completely changed by what his father saw in other people and his own history – the racism that he encountered made him lose faith in the dreams of others.
Troy’s other son, Lyons, is less present in the play and the main character’s life. Lyons lives separately from the rest of the Maxsons with his girlfriend. He is an aspiring musician, and Troy views his career in a similarly negative way as professional sports. In one of the first scenes, Lyons comes to Troy’s house to ask for money. Troy refuses, and the two men argue – Lyons insists that he will return the money, but Troy wants his older son to find a job.
Troy says, “I done learned my mistake and learned to do what’s right by it” (Wilson 19). One can see that Troy’s message for his sons is the same – they must find a stable job and abandon their dreams, as they are unreliable and impossible for black people to achieve. Troy does not trust others, believing only in hard work and self-reliance, which can be interpreted as a result of his lack of support during his younger years.
Wife
The only woman in the play is Rose, Troy’s wife and Cory’s mother. She is more compassionate and open to the changes than her husband, as she supports Cory’s decision to pursue football. Rose sides with her son when the two men argue, saying, “Why don’t you let the boy go ahead and play football, Troy?” (Wilson 39). She also gives Lyons the money he asks for without thinking about whether he will return it.
Rose loves being a mother and caring for her family, although she is the one to call out Troy when he tries to undermine his sons’ aspirations. As mentioned above, Rose challenges Troy by saying he is too old to be accepted back into baseball after serving time in prison. Her life depends on Troy, as she has no income, but she seems happy leading the household.
Nonetheless, Rose’s faith in her husband is shattered when Troy tells her he has been unfaithful – Troy exploits her kindness and trust, and she cannot accept his happiness. Upon learning that Troy will be the father to somebody else’s child, Rose says, “I done tried to be everything a wife should be” (Wilson 67). Her husband is stuck in the past, thinking he has “been standing in the same place for eighteen years” (Wilson 70).
However, Rose exclaims, “I been standing with you! … You always talking about what you give … But you take too … and don’t even know nobody’s giving!” (Wilson 71). These words showcase that she has been shaping her life around his and making decisions as a wife rather than a separate person. Troy’s focus on his unfulfilled dreams and the world’s cruelty has made him unempathetic toward others, including his family, and he failed to recognize how he hurt his wife and children.
The outcomes of Troy’s unchanging beliefs are explained in one interesting scene in the play, where Troy talks to Cory about the house roof. As Cory asks Troy whether they can have a TV, Troy explains the value of money that could be spent elsewhere. The man says, “It’s been over ten years since that roof was last tarred. … the snow come this winter and sit up there on that roof… and it’s gonna seep inside” (Wilson 32).
Troy continues, “It’s just gonna be a little bit … ain’t gonna hardly notice it. Then the next thing you know, it’s gonna be leaking all over the house” (Wilson 32). This description can be applied to Troy’s family, where he is the roof that protects his wife and sons. The effects of racism damage his confidence and empathy, creating “leaks” – his unjust behavior toward his sons and his infidelity.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the play “Fences” explores the long-lasting effects of injustice, showing how racism and its perceived consequences affect generations. The main character, Troy, is a man whose aspirations were unattainable due to segregation. Systematic racism shaped him into a strict man who is unable to change or listen to others.
While he supports his family and believes that he wants the best for them, Troy is overcome by the pain of his failed dreams and a rigid view of the world. As a result, his wife and sons also cannot lead the lives they may have wanted. Lyons lacks a supportive father figure, Cory misses an opportunity to pursue his dream career, and Rose loses her trust in her cheating husband. The whole family experiences the effects of racism, as the head of the family cannot overcome his frustration with the world.
Work Cited
Wilson, August. Fences. Plume Book, 1986.