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"For Troy, however, the American dream has turned into a prolonged nightmare. Instead of limitless opportunity, he has come to know racial discrimination and poverty."
ReplyDeleteThis line from "Baseball as History and Myth in August Wilson's Fences" seems to sum up a large amount of articles touching upon racism and racial discrimination in the early twentieth century. No matter how much circumstances seem to be in your favor, it's impossible to truly live that "dream" as a minority race during a time period where such discrimination existed. I've very recently finished reading a novel handling Mexican immigration, talking about "dreams" that immigrants wanted to experience upon traveling to America. They wanted a better life, freedom, and "limitless opportunity." The immigrants in this novel never reached such opportunity. In the end, their lives ended up even worse than before they made their transition to the new country.
Troy Maxson's situation is different in that he actually was able to experience this "limitless opportunity" while in his younger baseball days. He was able to gain a taste of the "dream" that a Caucasian person would have while living in America during this time period. But now he's working a trash-collecting job where he feels discriminated simply because of race. It was impossible for any racial minorities to truly "win" during this time period. No matter how much they experienced the American dream, no matter how much of a "star" they once were, they are still a minority. And they still are seen as of less importance than a Caucasian. In that case, is there truly an "American dream?"
Michael McCormick
While reading Fences, the assigned article, and watching the film version starring Denzel Washington and Viola Davis echoes of Death of Salesman kept resounding. I couldn’t help but note several similarities between these two plays. Troy Maxson Vs. Willy Loman compete for the role of biggest loser. Although both dramas were set roughly a decade apart with Death of a Salesman taking place in the 1940’s and Fences in the 1950’s and Troy Maxson being an African American man and Willy being a white man, there a several parallels between them. Both Troy and Willy vacillate between protagonist and antagonist throughout their respective plays. We feel sympathy and contempt for how both of these characters conduct themselves in the four walls of their homes, and out in the world. Troy and Willy are similar in that they both are stuck in their glory days, their homes are in some sort of ill repair, they have troubled relationships with their sons, and have been unfaithful husbands that spend most of their time complaining. In comparing Rose Maxson and Linda Loman, it is clear that they love their husbands, almost to their detriment. However, it is Rose that hits it out of the park when she takes in the daughter that Troy fathers with his mistress, Alberta and she dies in childbirth. “From right now…this child got a mother. But you a womanless man.” (pp. 498) I saw it as a triumph for Rose and the beginning of Troy’s demise. Much like Willy and Biff, Troy and Cory have a strained relationship that is centered around America’s other favorite pastime, football. Happy and Lyons are similar in that they are both seen as disappointments to their fathers. My final observation between Troy and Willy is that both have a fascination with death. While Willy was obsessed with suicide and succeeded at the end of ‘Salesman’. Troy has a slightly different relationship with death, he has “wrassled” with death, asked death to stay away after Alberta dies, and invites death to come get him after he fights with Cory. “Come on! Anytime you want! Come on! I be ready for you…but I ain’t gonna be easy.” (pp 505)
ReplyDeleteJulietta Rivera
A recurring theme in many of the plays we’ve read has been that of the American Dream, and "Fences" follows that tradition by using a white-dominated American pastime of baseball as a metaphor for the institutional racism that plagued African-Americans in a segregated society. Troy Maxson’s embittered existence parallels that of Willy Lowman’s in "Death of a Salesman," though one fundamental difference is that Troy is cognizant of the injustices levied against him, routinely acknowledging that by being a black man in America, he was “born with two strikes.” Despite being athletically gifted, Troy’s talents were unrecognized in a time when inferior white players were being celebrated in the major leagues. Almost as if using his own baseball metaphors against him, Rose and others chalk this up as “a matter of timing,” pointing out that he bloomed too early, before the time of Jackie Robinson. However, for Troy, it wasn’t a matter of timing at all, but more so a reminder of how “the descendants of African slaves were offered no such welcome of participation” in America, and how “They sold the use of their muscles and bodies” (Wilson 448) to a society that treated them as second-class. As Koprince points out in her articles, “Wilson specifically links the figures of the devil and death with white racism” (355-356), either by illustrating their exploitative practices, or how black men like Troy have been relegated to positions that keep him in poverty, either as a rubbish collector or in a baseball league that never afforded its players the same economic comforts the major leagues did to white men. Unable to ever realize his own potential, Troy dashes his son Cory’s athletic dreams precisely because he’s witnessed first hand how black athletes have to work twice as hard as white athletes without ever reaping any of the benefits that come with it.
ReplyDelete- Christian Martinez
I had no idea that this story was originally a play. I remember watching the film with several friends and it being an incredibly moving movie, bringing one of my friends to tears when Rose finally gives Troy a piece of her mind. One side effect of this is that I can’t help reading the characters lines without hearing their respective actors, especially Denzel Washington’s voice for Troy. As previously mentioned in another comment I saw many parallels with Death of a Salesman. It makes particular sense considering they both have to do with aging men lost in the past chasing after the American Dream. The big difference being that Willy had all the potential laid out in front of him. By comparison, Willy’s children had countless opportunities and advantages, such as Biff’s ticket to college due to sports. He loses out on it due to his own failure and giving up. Cory has similar opportunities ahead of him, but nothing is promised to him. Troy actively dismantles Cory’s future in sports by cutting down his every avenue dragging him down with him. Thanks to Cory’s determination he still manages to escape his father’s future by joining the marines, which Troy still can’t appreciate judging from how he thought he was in the army. Both Troy and Willy confront their impotence in life by cheating on their wives, the difference being that Troy has to own up to his infidelity. He tries to justify his actions with baseball metaphors, but loses everything. I found his comeuppance to be a fitting punishment, and the funeral was a great epilogue, showing that despite his flaws he was still loved by his family and friends. Unlike Willy, he maintained a bond with them, no matter how strained it may be.
ReplyDeleteEnrique Perez
I personally want to bring to question one of the final statements made by Koprince’s article right off the bat, pun definitely intended, that we are left with a heroic image in Troy Maxon at the closing of the play. In fact, the only descriptor that Koprince uses in regards to Troy that I could wholeheartedly agree with is “defiant” - much more so than a “larger-than-life batter/warrior.”. That isn’t to say that Troy is completely free of a fighting spirit in my opinion, far from it, he is clearly a survivor that has made do in an era rife with disadvantages for those considered “other”. However, I wouldn’t say that he always fought heroically or lived his life with full dignity as the article would suggest. Troy Maxon wasn’t larger than life, he was a flawed and complicated character, and even if we are to believe that his intentions were noble he did much harm. It would be naive to ignore that he was unfaithful to his wife for the sheer fact that he was no longer satisfied with staying still.
ReplyDeleteIn fact, Troy is quite reminiscent of Willy Loman in his constant reaching for a semblance of glory days, though I would be remiss if I didn’t point out that Troy’s glory days were inherently much less glorious due to outside factors. Beyond this, they both left behind children tethered to these ideals in their passing - along with a fenced in house and attempted gardens (i.e. Willy’s garden in comparison to Raynell’s).
Joaquin Castillo Jr
I agree with Julietta. While I did not pick up on the similar circumstances that both Troy and Willy Loman had, I did feel that Troy. Much like Willy, seem to bring both of their children down. With Willy he taught his children wrong, convinced them that all you need to do to be successful in life is to be well liked by people. And only then would you go far. Biff however, realizes the error of his father’s upbringing however, and attempts to confront him about it in front of the rest of the family, all of it in vain.
ReplyDeleteTroy however is a different case. While he was obviously bringing his son down, he did so in a much different way than Willy. With Troy it is not the case of a father with misguided information but, from what I suspect, is a form a fragile masculinity threatened by Cory and Rose. Troy does not have much to affirm his masculinity. He was not allowed in the baseball league because he was “too old”, he doesn’t know how to read, he is not even allowed to drive a dumpster truck. The most he has to consider himself a man are his roles as father and husband. Troy has an affair to make himself feel like he’s “stealing second”, he denies his son what he himself was denied which Troy claims was because he didn’t want Cory to feel what he did. But an accusation from Cory later regarding on Troy feeling threatened by him would make a reader think of other ulterior motives. And then finally kicks Cory out of the house because he did not respect Troy’s authority as the man of the household. Once he loses both his son and his relationship with his wife, we see an almost downfall for Troy, who has almost nothing left.
Mirella Martinez
While reading Fences, one aspect I enjoyed reading about was Rose’s character. In Fences, she is the only complex female character and one of the few (3) female characters in the play. Her role is to be both caring, compassionate, and mediate for Troy to Lyons and Cory. Later, her role is further established indirectly as a strong woman and single mother. Additionally, her character and personality is so opposite to Troy’s that it hints at their later failing relationship.
ReplyDeleteRose’s character is opposite to Troy, who fantasizes his life through baseball metaphors. Their views on events and life are so different that they do not even recall events happening the same way. Rose tends to be a realist about life. One instance where this is illustrated, is shown when the two discuss cheating. Koprince explains, “In act 2 Rose learns that Troy has been unfaithful to her and has fathered a child with his mistress, Alberta.” Troy justifies himself through a baseball metaphor. The article further explains his cheating as trying a House of Robinson approach unlike before (4). However, Rose is shown to see through Troy’s fantasy justification and says, “We ain’t talking about no baseball. … I gave eighteen years of my life … Don’t you think I ever wanted other things? … Don’t you think it ever crossed my mind to want to know other men?” (493). Rather than romanticizing her life, Rose shows the reality of being in a relationship after many years.
Her character is also complex and further established through the metaphor of a flower. In act two, she says, “it didn’t take me no eighteen years to find out the soil was hard and rocky and it wasn’t never gonna bloom.” In this passage, “it” could possibly mean her life and self. Here, she explains she knows her life will never “bloom,” and she will never have the American dream. The lines also further illustrate Rose’s outlook as a realist. Rose is shown to not expect an easy American dream life and has accepted this.
Zugay Trevino
Susan Koprince mentions how Troy wasn’t born at the right time for baseball. And how his words were inspired by black baseball players. Troy was upset he couldn’t live out his dream and faced a rough life because of it. Not only Troy but Cory had a dream of joining a college football team and Rose gave up all her dreams for Troy. I have mixed feelings about Troy as a character. I hated him throughout the whole play, the only parts of his character I liked were his stories about death and the devil. Rose was the real MVP in the play. Not only did she deal with Troy’s adultery, she even kept his baby and made him supper. I felt horrible as a reader learning what Troy did to her. I had no power to stop Troy like Cory, I just kept on turning the pages. Rose gave up everything for Troy and she wasn’t enough for him. Troy even said , “I just want to have a little time to myself… A little time to enjoy life.” Which he soon gets bashed on by Rose,“what about me? When's my time to enjoy life?”(493) I could just hear what Rose said echo through my in my ears for the rest of the play. The fights between Rose and Troy reminded me of Walter and Ruth from “A Raisin in the Sun.” I did like the end of the play where Cory and Raynell sing the song Troy would always sing about his dog. Speaking of music I also liked how music was implemented into the play. One thing I noticed between Troy and his brother Gabriel was the stories they brought up. Troy brought up a story where he meets the devil, “ open the door… devil standing there bigger than life. White fellow… Got on good clothes and everything. Troy talks about meeting the devil several times and even claims Cory has the devil in him too. Troy also brings up about meeting Death which I found interesting how Wilson just threw in these little short stories within the play. Gabriel on the other hand has stories of having biscuits with St. Peter. And Gabriel has the power call Peter and open the Pearly Gates with his trumpet. I thought both brothers stories contrasted each other. And I don’t know how I feel about how Wilson kept reminding the reader that Troy has a spot in heaven. ANd as a reader knowing full well that Troy abuses his family and keeps them trapped in his house.
ReplyDeleteDanny Olivarez
I loved this play.
ReplyDeleteIt’s by far one of the favorite pieces of the class. Before I read the work, I thought and wished how this could’ve been my first introduction to Fences, but I previously have seen the film adaptation with Denzel Washington. As a result, similar to Ricky, I couldn’t help but envision the cast playing out the roles in my head as I read through it, especially with Troy as Washington.
The baseball analogy and the references that are embedded within the dialogue do a tremendous job at capturing the oppression and racism that was evident toward African Americans at this time period of the play, which is the 1950s. With references of the Negro Leagues, Jackie Robinson, and Josh Gibson, we see that Troy has a negative perspective toward the league stating that black players have it worse than whites. He even shares this view toward his son and football when he states, “The white man ain’t gonna let him get nowhere with that football” (Wilson, 452). In a sense, he is hinting that black players are just seen as commodities or products to play in a white man’s game. Interestingly enough, the article states that Troy, like Robinson, was part of this so-called “two-ness.” It reads, “Troy inevitably belongs simultaneously to ‘the house of Ruth’ and “the house of Robinson’ (Koprince, 353). Meaning, the individual is somewhat caught between two worlds, being black and American.
This is similar to another movie starring Denzel Washington titled “He Got Game”. The Spike Lee directed joint uses a similar notion with racism and sports, but it is set in the 90s and uses basketball as its foundation. Here, Jesus Shuttlesworth, a basketball phenom played by NBA star Ray Allen, is a nationally recognized prospect for all the top colleges in America. Through the film, white-oriented schools see Shuttlesworth as a product that they wish to recruit and essentially, he is seen as a tool and more so, he is objectified. He is not seen as a person, but instead, he is seen as a body on the court that can score buckets. It is a highly recommendable film.
In addition, the film and the play also tackle father and son relationships, as well as the issues that can arise from them. The lack of acceptance from a father figure then brings both Cory and Shuttlesworth to have this internal hatred and flame inside them that cannot be easily extinguished. Furthermore, it’s just as the saying goes, “Like father, like son.” Although we may have this resentment toward our fathers, in the end, similar to Cory, it’s hard to step out of their shadows.
P.J. Hernandez