The Tragedy Of Troy Maxson - 2580 Words

The Tragedy of Troy Maxson Tragedy, as defined by Aristotle, is â€Å"a drama treating a serious subject and involving persons of significance† (Kirszner and Mandell 1086), the success of a tragedy occurs when the audience â€Å"feels both fear and pity because they see in themselves the potential for similar situations† (Kirszner and Mandell 1087). Aristotle’s literary theory of tragedy applies only to â€Å"imitation of persons who are above the common level, he must be one who is highly renowned and prosperous – a personage like Oedipus, Thyestes, or other illustrious men of such families† (Aristotle) because his theory was developed for application to the literary works of poets and playwrights such as Homer, Aeschylus, and Sophocles, whose works were the interpretations of Greek mythology. This means that one cannot look fully to Aristotle’s definition of a tragic hero in application to modern literature. Therefore, many scholars and literary critics look to playw right Arthur Miller’s description written in his article Tragedy and the Common Man where he writes, â€Å"I believe that common man is as apt a subject for tragedy in its highest sense as kings were† (Miller). Miller points out in his article that the common man can exhibit all the same qualities and characteristics as those of a man born into nobility, and that same common man can execute the same actions. But not all tragedies are heroic, there must be specific elements in the creation of a tragic hero that can be difficult toShow MoreRelated`` Everything Rises With Leadership But Falls As A Tragedy 1095 Words   |  5 Pages11/26/2014 Troy Maxson â€Å"Everything rises with leadership but falls as a tragedy,† said Alexander the Great, before his Battle of the Hydaspes, where his army suffered many casualties and marked the end of his military campaign. In history, there have been many downfalls. A few examples, Marcus Brutus was responsible for the downfall of Julius Caesar. Fighting a two front war against England and Russian empires led to the downfall of Napoleon. Many historians call those events tragedies. The wordRead MoreFences Play According to Aristotle1540 Words   |  7 PagesUsing Aristotle’s descriptions of Tragedy, I classify Fences by August Wilson as a tragic play. The elements of tragedy, Troy Maxson as a tragic hero, and tragic plot were evident throughout the play. Also, the feeling of catharsis at the end-which is proper of tragedy, was clearly identifiable. I. Fences fits into the tragic genre based on the points given by Aristotle. In Poetics, he defines tragedy as the imitation of an action that is serious and also as having magnitude, complete in itselfRead MoreAnalysis Of The Book Fences 1071 Words   |  5 PagesFences: Troy Maxson An apocalypse is defined as a deeper understanding of the world that results in a type of closure. Furthermore, a personal apocalypse would be described as an understanding of an event or situation that results in a closure, such as the end of a struggle or situation, or even death within time. Time is defined as the indefinite, uncontrolled, continued progress of existence and events over time – past, present, and future. Throughout Fences, Troy Maxson endures many trials andRead MoreAnalysis Of Othello By William Shakespeare913 Words   |  4 Pagesparties. Plays written in the Elizabethan era are categorized as comedies, histories, or tragedies to make it easier for their audience to understand difficult and emotional themes. Although modern plays may follow classic Elizabethan structures, dramatists may adapt it to appeal to a broader audience and to reflect similar issues that may have evolved. For instance, audiences can easily identify with tragedies since they exhi bit a downfall as a direct result of a fatal flaw that leads up, often timesRead MoreFailure Of The American Dream In The Writings Of F. Scott Fitzgerald, Zora Neale Hurston, And August Wilson1418 Words   |  6 Pagesin life by using her granddaughter, Janie, as vehicle for her own financial success. Nanny fails by forcing Janie into marriages with abusive men, which is very similar to the failure of the American Dream in August Wilson’s characterization of Troy Maxson as a failed baseball star in the Negro leagues that is too embittered to allow his son Cory, to become a professional athlete. In essence, these literary examples define the failure of the American Dream in the writings of F. Scott Fitzgerald, ArthurRead More A Comparison of the Masks In Cold Blood, Streetcar Named Desire, and Fences1890 Words   |  8 PagesNamed Desire by Tennessee Williams, and Fences by August Wilson. The three characters, Perry Smith, Blanche DuBois, and Troy Maxson wore masks to their bitter endings, always trying to fool everyone else. When times got tough, they had to face themselves, and they could not stand the sight.    The characters of Blanche DuBois (A Streetcar Named Desire by Williams), Troy Maxson (Fences by Wilson) and Perry Smith (In Cold Blood by Capote), all had an image they hoped to project. They wanted everyoneRead MoreThe Battle Of Wills Between Rainey And Sturdyvant, The White Owner Of The Recording Studio1773 Words   |  8 Pagescharacters speech and what it says about their relationships with one another is more important than what happens in the plot. The play also has some elements of a modern tragedy, as Levee’s downfall is his inability to control his pride and his rage. However, the play does not fit the conventional definition of tragedy, in that Levee is neither a courageous figure nor one who behaves in a particularly dignified manner. This play also achieves verisimilitude, which can be defined as the illusionRead MoreAnalysis Of August Wilson s Fences 1840 Words   |  8 PagesThat way my feelings wouldn t get hurt. My fence was to protect me from what I thought was going to hurt me. Well the same thing happened to Troy Maxson. In the play, Fences written by the well-known playwright, August Wilson, is the story of Troy Maxson and his beloved family. Throughout the whole entire play, a fence is being built around the Maxson household. As the story unfolds to the viewers, the word fences may look like a simple title, but the truth is it has different symbolic meaningRead MoreEssay about Fences by August Wilson1876 Words   |  8 Pages Who is Rose Maxson? What drives her to be so embracing, to have a startling ability to be sturdy, compassionate, and forgiving? Who is Amanda Wingfield? Her relationship with men and family is turbulent, what attributes emanates from her to be a nurturing mother? What drives her to be poignant? How are these women perceived? What should we learned from them? Are their lives to be discarded or honored? Fences is a compelling story of a Black family in the 1950s. A tale of the encounter ofRead MoreStruggles and Tensions in Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller and Fences by August Wilson1437 Words   |  6 PagesIn Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller and Fences by August Wilson, the main characters of the plays face struggles which move the plot along, while adding anticipation and excitement. Willy and Troy face struggles internally and externally with society. Willy struggles with failing business, while Troy struggles with feelings of being segregated form society. Both men also face conflicts with their marriages and with their relationships with their sons. These struggles are evident throughout