Sunday, April 23, 2017

The Maxson Family


In August Wilson's play, Fences, sports is a very reoccurring topic that seems to be quite important to the Maxson family. Troy Maxson was a former baseball player and his son Corey is quite the football star. Troy holds a grudge throughout the play because he was unable to make it to the major leagues. Although he argues that it was because he is black, it was because he was too old. When Corey is offered a college football scholarship Troy refuses to let him play. He claims it is because he doesn't want his son to get hurt like he did, so he insists that Corey does chores and goes to work instead of supporting his football dream.

For Troy I feel like sports represented a sense of loss. Baseball was something Troy was clearly passionate about and couldn't seem to let go of. He let it effect the relationship he had with his family. He thought that not allowing Corey to take the scholarship would be better for him in the long run. But for Corey the scholarship was a way he could advance in his life and make something out of himself. Going to college would be great for his future. Rose, Corey's mother, knew that the football scholarship was something that couldn't be passed up. She was very supportive of Corey's football career and wanted the best for her son and she got angry with Troy for being the opposite.

Both Troy and Corey were good at sports and thats why it frustrated me that Troy wouldn't allow Corey to live out his dream. I believe that Troy just didn't want to see his son succeed and do better than him. But truly he should have been happy for Corey and let him live his own life. It's a shame he never got to see that scholarship.

1 comment:

  1. I felt the same with Troy and how baseball will never leave his mind going through life. Good summary overall and good use of specific examples.

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