Troy Maxson has been described as a tragic character due to the unpredictable behaviour he displays in the novel. In the opening scenes, troy is displayed to be a responsible man who engages in all manner of odd jobs just to provide for the needs of his family. He is also a man who is concerned about the rights of the black man which is displayed by his desire to move from just being a garbage carrier to a truck driver. Considering his younger years of growth, we learn that troy was a hardworking man who was also passionate about sports. It is because of his likeable characters that he attracts many people around who are proud of him (Shannon 664).
His character however changes especially when the allegations of him having an affair are proved to be true. This distinguishes him from his responsible character to a man who can cheat on his wife. The unmet needs in his family such as not building a fence for his wife after she constantly reminds him also makes him appear unloving and unkind. He is in fact enticed by his friend just to ensure he meets the need that the wife has been begging him for quite some time. His selfish character is yet again revealed when he denies his son the chance to participate in a football match (Wessling 125). It is rather ironic that a man who has been fighting for his rights and has been passionate about sports denies his son similar opportunities. This is based on his past experience of how the blacks have been treated when it comes to sports.
Troy refuses to appreciate the fact that times have changed and ignoring the advice of the people close to him. Such a selfish move makes him loose his son who decides to walk out of the home. A man who had been previously loved because of his caring and responsible nature now turns against his family by thwarting the dreams of his son to play football. Being passionate about sports and realising the great opportunities that his son may be exposed to through his talent. He does not also consider it as a way through which his family shall be delivered from poverty through the talent that is just sprouting among them (VANDERSEE 2). He also becomes insensitive to the needs of the family and chooses to handle things they way he wishes.
The most tragic decision that Troy made that proved his unpredictable character was committing suicide. It was shocking for such a strong man to choose to die a cowardly death. Troy has been known to be a strong man who can persevere and overcome anything. This was mostly revealed through the decisions that he made and the steps that he took. It was indeed a big surprise for his family and friends who thought he would have acted otherwise. The mystery that involved his burial revealed how much he had turned from a man loved by many to a man that anybody would avoid (Nadel 34). His own son was not willing to attend his burial due to the strained relationships they had developed when he denied him the opportunity to play football. The end of the play is the complete opposite of how it began. Troy moved from a responsible and strong person and died as a weak and coward man who could not face his challenges with confidence.
Works cited
Nadel, Alan. May All Your Fences Have Gates: Essyas on the Drama of August Wilson. University of Iowa Press, 1993.
Shannon, Sandra G. "christopher bigsby (ed.). The Cambridge Companion to August Wilson." The Review of English Studies 61.251 (2010): 662-666.
VANDERSEE, CHARLES. "Wilson's FENCES." The Explicator 57 (1999): 2.
Wessling, Joseph H. "Wilson's Fences." The Explicator 57.2 (1999): 123-127.
