Why Does Troy Address A Personify Death

Why Does Troy Address a Personified Death? A Deep Dive into August Wilson's Fences

August Wilson's Pulitzer Prize-winning play, Fences, is a masterpiece of American drama, exploring themes of race, family, and the limitations of the past. One of the most striking and debated elements of the play is Troy Maxson's repeated and increasingly intense conversations with Death, a personified figure he addresses throughout the narrative. This isn't simply a metaphorical representation of mortality; it's a complex engagement with fear, control, and the struggle for meaning in the face of an unavoidable end. Understanding Troy's interactions with personified Death reveals crucial insights into his character, his worldview, and the larger themes of the play.

The Nature of Troy's Personified Death

Unlike a traditional allegorical representation, Troy's Death isn't a shadowy, silent presence. It's a tangible, almost conversational entity, a force with whom he argues, bargains, and even boasts. This personification isn't merely a stylistic choice; it reflects Troy's own personality: a man who refuses to accept the inevitability of anything, even death itself. He attempts to control his fate through brute strength, defiance, and even a futile attempt at negotiation.

Death as a Reflection of Troy's Internal Struggle

Troy's conversations with Death are, fundamentally, a reflection of his internal struggle. He is a man deeply scarred by his past: racism, poverty, and the crippling weight of societal expectations. He wrestles with these experiences throughout his life, and his conversations with Death become a manifestation of this ongoing internal battle. He's not simply facing his mortality; he's confronting the sum total of his life choices and their consequences. The personified Death allows him to externalize this conflict, to give voice to his anxieties and frustrations in a tangible way.

Death as a Symbol of Uncontrollability

For Troy, Death represents the ultimate loss of control. He's a man who prides himself on his physical strength and his ability to dictate his own destiny. However, Death is the one force he cannot conquer, cannot outmaneuver, cannot negotiate with. His dialogue with Death, therefore, becomes a symbolic representation of his struggle to accept his own limitations, to accept the fact that some things are simply beyond his control. This is especially poignant given his controlling nature in other aspects of his life. He tries to control his family, his relationships, and even his own emotions, but Death represents an absolute limit to this control.

Death as a Means of Confrontation and Defiance

Troy's defiant tone towards Death should not be interpreted as acceptance or resignation. Instead, it's a strategy of confrontation and defiance. By engaging Death directly, he attempts to wrest some semblance of control from the inevitable. His bravado and attempts at bargaining are expressions of his desperate need to maintain his dignity and sense of self, even in the face of his own demise. He's fighting not just Death itself, but the fear and helplessness that come with acknowledging mortality.

The Significance of Troy's Personified Death in the Context of the Play

The personification of Death serves a crucial function within the overall narrative of Fences. It's not merely a stylistic device; it's a powerful tool used by Wilson to explore several key themes:

The Weight of the Past: Troy’s interactions with Death are inextricably linked to his past experiences. The hardships he endured – the racism, the lack of opportunity – inform his fear of death and his struggle to come to terms with his mortality. The personified Death allows him to confront not only his physical death but also the symbolic "death" of his dreams and aspirations, which were stifled by the oppressive societal forces he faced.

The Illusion of Control: Troy's attempt to bargain and control Death directly mirrors his attempts to control every other aspect of his life. He tries to control his family, his work, and his environment, but ultimately, Death serves as a constant reminder that there are limitations to his power. The character of Death highlights the futility of attempting to control the uncontrollable. This highlights a central theme of the play: the limitations of human power and the importance of acceptance.

The Legacy of Trauma: Troy's past traumas significantly shape his interactions with death. He views death as a consequence of his life, his hardships, and his failures. This reinforces the impact of trauma on the psyche and the ways in which it can manifest itself in an individual's life.

Father-Son Relationships: Troy's refusal to accept his mortality mirrors his reluctance to accept Cory's dreams and ambitions. Just as he tries to control his own fate, he attempts to control Cory's, ultimately leading to their estrangement. This interplay highlights the cyclical nature of trauma and its impact on family dynamics.

Race and Mortality: Troy's fear of death and his defiance of it are deeply rooted in his experiences as a Black man in America. His life was cut short by factors outside of his control – racism, poverty, and systemic injustice. His discussions with Death are thus laden with the weight of a life that was marked by significant hardships and the ongoing struggle for racial equality. The inevitability of death is amplified by the awareness that his life, due to systemic racism, might have been shorter than it would have been had he been born under different circumstances.

The Psychological Implications of Personified Death

The psychological underpinnings of Troy's relationship with personified Death are complex and multifaceted. It speaks to his deep-seated anxieties about his own mortality, his struggles with legacy and what will happen after he is gone, and his pervasive sense of powerlessness despite his outward strength. He projects his anxieties and fears onto this externalized figure of Death, allowing him to engage with them in a more tangible and confrontational way. This process allows the audience to understand the depth of his emotional turmoil and the extent to which his past experiences have shaped his perception of the world.

Defiance as a Coping Mechanism: Troy's brazen defiance of Death should be viewed as a coping mechanism. It's his way of managing the fear and anxiety associated with his own mortality. This defiance masks a deeper vulnerability that he’s unable, or unwilling, to express openly.

Bargaining and Denial: His attempts to bargain with Death show a denial of the inevitable. He tries to negotiate for more time, more control, attempting to secure a better outcome for himself, despite the fact that such negotiation is inherently impossible. This psychological mechanism speaks to his underlying fear of death and his reluctance to accept his own mortality.

Control and Mastery: Troy’s interactions with Death are not simply about confronting his own mortality; they're also about maintaining a sense of control and mastery. Even in the face of his impending death, he seeks to retain a sense of agency and control over the situation. This reinforces his personality traits of control and dominance.

Conclusion: The Enduring Power of Troy's Dialogue with Death

Troy Maxson's conversations with personified Death aren't mere theatrical embellishments; they are integral to the play's power and its lasting impact. They provide a powerful and deeply moving exploration of mortality, the struggle for meaning in the face of adversity, and the complex interplay between personal agency and the limitations imposed by fate. The personification of Death allows Wilson to delve into the profound depths of the human psyche, illuminating the psychological toll of a life lived under the shadow of racism, prejudice, and systemic injustice. Through this bold stylistic choice, Wilson created a character whose struggle with death resonates deeply with audiences, making Fences a truly timeless and enduring work of American literature. The conversations with Death are not just about death; they're about life, legacy, and the enduring human struggle to find meaning in a world that often seems profoundly unfair. The personification of Death allows Wilson to highlight the universal human experience of confronting mortality and the strategies we employ to cope with its inevitability. Troy's confrontation with Death, therefore, becomes a powerful metaphor for the human condition itself.