Literary Analysis
Quotes I agree with
“Wilson uses both the history and mythology of baseball to challenge the authenticity of the American dream.”
“It is not evasive and it has room for pain, for heartache, for alienation, even for death, because it affirms the values of mercy, forgiveness, and sacrifice, which adversity calls forth.”
“If we view Troy's earthly life as an autonomous whole, we are looking at an ultimately tragic book of life. But if we view Troy's life as a page in an ongoing saga, perhaps we can see it not only as a prelude to a happier time but as a success story of itself.”
Quotes I disagree with
“ What should a realist expect of Troy Maxson, who was abandoned by his mother at age eight, fled a brutal, lustful father at age fourteen, began to steal for a living, and served fifteen years on a murder charge? One can only hope for some measure of good, and Troy exceeds a realist's expectations.”
In his review of the the play Fences by August Wilson, Joseph Wessling contends that people expect too much from Troy’s character. Specifically, he argues that, “What should a realist expect of Troy Maxson, who was abandoned by his mother at age eight, fled a brutal, lustful father at age fourteen, began to steal for a living, and served fifteen years on a murder charge? One can only hope for some measure of good, and Troy exceeds a realist's expectations.”
I disagree, in my view, Troy is not excused from his poor life choices as an adult just because he had a difficult childhood. “Troy: "Look here, as long you known me...you ever known me to chase after women?" Bono: "Hell yeah! Long as I done known you. You forgetting I knew you when.” Troy: "Naw, I'm talking about since I been married to Rose"
Bono: "Oh, not since you been married to Rose." Troy doesn’t own up to his mistake of cheating on his wife and he doesn’t consider the consequences of his actions. Troy thinks that because his father treated women poorly, he can do the same. Troy should know better than anyone else that it is not acceptable to mistreat women. Some readers might disagree, and say that Troy’s childhood made him the way he was and his actions are because of his traumatic past. Yet, I would argue that Troy’s past doesn’t excuse his immoral behavior. Overall, then, I believe that Troy’s actions were all his own and not to be blamed on his childhood.