Character anaylsis for Troy Maxson - Essay Example

Section/# The Three Adjectives of Troy Maxson Like a good tragic hero – Troy Maxson experiences shortcomings that help to define him as well as spell his eventual ruin at the end of the play. What is of particular interest about the character of Troy Maxson is the fact that his shortcomings also serve to leave him extraordinarily conflicted with respect to the way in which he lives his life and seeks to provide flawed advice to those around him as to how they should live their own lives. In short, the character of Troy Maxson could be viewed as proud, opinionated, and angry.

Although the fact that Troy works as a waste disposal worker for the local government would lead the reader to believe that pride would not be an emotion he feels, this not the case. Troy feels a very strong sense of pride with respect to the fact that he is the “bread winner” for his family. He takes a great deal of pride in the fact that even though the work may be menial and he feels that he could be capable of much more, it nonetheless provides him with a sense identity to which he clings relentlessly.

Similarly, Troy’s character can be defined by the fact that he continually feels compelled to share his opinions on life to those around him. This is not only the function of a person who thinks too much of himself; it is also the function of key character who believes that his life experiences are applicable to nearly everyone he comes into contact with. Although the play itself is concentric around the character of Troy, he seeks to impart his personal views and advice on each and every character that comes into contact with him.

Of course, the character that has the most proximity to this unrequited advice is of course his son Corey. Corey seeks to pursue a college football as a means of obtaining a scholarship to university that he would otherwise not be able to afford. However, rather than seeking to encourage his son to explore such an opportunity as a means of bettering his life, Troy is completely and entirely against such a prospect.This brings the reader to the third aspect of Troy’s character; that of anger.

Although it is not exhibited clearly, it is nonetheless an underlying current that is frequently brought to the attention of the reader. One of the most prominent ways that this sense of anger and frustration surfaces is when Troy speaks with Corey regarding his hardships in the Negro Leagues. Due to the fact that racial segregation stopped Troy’s career from ever reaching the Major Leagues, Troy harbors an undercurrent of anger and frustration that seeks to define nearly every single aspect of his life.

These are but 3 distinct adjectives that this reader has chosen to employ as a way of defining Troy’s character in the play. Doubtless there are many others; however, it should be noted that a careful reading of the play will reveal many emotions and characteristics that can comfortably be categorized in the preceding emotions/feelings that this author has lain out. Work ConsultedWilson, August. Fences : a play. New York: New American Library, 1986.