Essays on Troy

“Roasting Brits lost their cool in a wide brown land” by Troy Lennon

Analysis of the Article
This article talks about the Australian weather that has been cited by Brits as extreme ever since the first Brit set foot on Australia in 1788. Troy talks of how the Australian weather was much more different from the weather in other European countries especially Britain. During the time of arrival of the British, the average temperatures in Australia were 20 degrees Celsius which were quite higher than the temperatures back home. The Brits found life difficult in Australia and had to adapt. First off they had to abandon their heavy clothing that was meant Continue reading...

There is no doubt that Hector is the mightiest and undisputed warrior in the Trojan army. Despite being slain by Achilles, he lays waste to the Achaean army while Achilles is absent. However, even though he appears to be a competent leader, there tend to be perceptible flaws in his leadership, especially toward the end of Homer’s Iliad, when the Achaean army receives new strength when Patroclus and later Achilles himself joins them. It seems that Hector exhibits the trait of cowardice when he “turns coward and runs” ( Erwin Cook Ivi) from the Great Ajax twice in Book Continue reading...

Character Analysis of Troy Maxon in “Fences” by August Wilson

August Wilson wrote the drama Fences in 1983, in which he explores the life of the Maxon’s family. Troy Maxon is the protagonist through which Wilson portrays the struggles of the black American people who yearn for justice and fair treatment during the 1950’s. Troy also is representative of the black males in that era, who are reluctant to recognize and accept social change. All the characters in the play are African Americans who must live through the trials and tribulations that exist during the time before the civil rights movement. The main character Troy Maxon is Continue reading...

Thesis statement:

‘Fences’ is a play full of allegorical allusions and deals with the problems faced by African Americans in society with the production seen at the Duchess Theatre in London particularly enticing and compelling especially with the great Larry Henry in the title role.

Overview:

- The full name of the play is ‘Fences’
- The theatre company presenting the production is the London Theatre Company
- The physical theatre is the Duchess Theatre in London
- I saw the show on the 21st August 2013 at 8pm
- The ticket cost GBP 20 and was made online.
- The exact Continue reading...

The aim of this paper is to present you with the way in which Troy and his wife Rose build fences in their interpersonal relationship. Troy and Rose are the hero and heroine retrospectively of the novel ‘Fences’ which was written by August Wilson in 1983 and represents the life of the black community in the 60’s. The main thematic core of the novel is the way in which Troy, who is the main hero, leads his way to come in terms with his personal failures and reflections drawn upon the way he lived his life. The novel Continue reading...

Symbolism refers to an individual, position or item which has a significance in itself but indicates other definitions as well. Things, figures and activities can be signs. Anything that indicates a significance beyond the obvious. According to this context, symbolism exist in the poem “Richard Cory,” the play “Fence,” and the fiction story “To Room Nineteen.”
Richard Cory is himself symbolic in that he represents the rich personalities in the society that are adored by almost everyone. Edwin Robinson clearly reveals to us in his poem "Richard Cory" that someone else’s lifestyle may not be all that meets Continue reading...

Fences by August Wilson

Introduction
Rose is a depiction of a classic African American woman. She has devoted her life in serving as a committed wife to Troy although her life with this husband has not been fulfilling her desires. However, Troy has also established an affair with another lady. He cites his dissatisfaction with his married life as the reason for having an affair with another different woman. This move does not solve the predicament he faces. In fact, this exacerbates the situation given that the husband completely ignores his duties and responsibilities with regard to taking care of Rose. Troy stays Continue reading...

Introduction

The ancient city of Troy is perhaps one of the cities that have generated waves of disputes over time, as to whether it has been an actual city or a legendary one. However, due to extensive archaeological research, Troy is a city that indeed existed, and maybe its remains do not bring back pictures of its old glorious days, yet, there is so much to learn from its passage through time. In greater detail:
Ancient Greek epic poet wrote in his infamous epic “The Iliad”: “Generations of men are like the leaves. In winter, winds blow them down Continue reading...

Sight is a very prevalent theme in a great variety of fiction; it can often be a symbol for understanding, comprehension, and enlightenment. Hindsight and foresight are often rewarded as virtues, or at least play heavily into the plot of a story. A blind person is often thought to ‘see’, or comprehend, more than the normal person, and sometimes people are not aware of a shocking truth, despite it looking them straight in the face. These scenarios are found in August Wilson's play Fences, as Troy, the patriarch of the family, is completely undone by his pride and lack Continue reading...

Essay

Before speaking about literary techniques it should be mentioned that two stories themselves. One of them - the drama of August Wilson's called “Fences”, a second one is a work which is a part of the story called “Battle Royale” by Ralph Ellison. Both stories tell to readers about the plight of African-Americans who lived at that time in America. About how society has forced them to humility, as how it turned away and did not understand them. The stories tell about problems with which that people should deal with. Authors tell us about different stories of different people, Continue reading...

In August Wilson’s Fences, we follow Troy Maxon, a disillusioned, bitter middle-aged man who used to play baseball in his prime – however, since he played before the color barrier was broken in major league baseball, there was no chance for him to shine. This has left him a broken shell of a man who clings to what mild successes he had in the past and participates in an extramarital affair which tears his family apart. Troy’s journey is the most transparently indicative of the American Dream – his dream occupation was baseball, a quintessentially American sport. However, due Continue reading...

The Trojan War is easily one of the most critical events in Greek Mythology as perhaps best emphasized in Homer’s Odyssey and Iliad. While there are variations in the accounts as to the causes of the War, the War that was waged by Achaeans against Troy, follows the loss of the King of Sparta’s wife to Paris. This does however remain largely debatable as regards its historical veracity, with beliefs that Homeric literature did exaggerate different things in line with varied poetic needs. This paper assesses the varied accounts of the primary and secondary factors that caused Continue reading...

Review of Strauss’ the Trojan War (2007)
In Barry Strauss’ book called, “The Trojan War: A New History”, the author talks about a matter that has been discussed for over thousands of years, nevertheless Strauss is able to bring new arguments and interpretations about it. Despite the fact Strauss displays that numerous of the acknowledged ideas in regards to the Trojan War can be refuted, he also nose-dives when it comes to supporting his claims with passable historical references and analyzes.
So as to seashore their boats at Troy the Greeks knew that they had to fight their way Continue reading...

Troy (2004): Movie Review

Troy: The Myth Behind the Movie
Introduction
Wolfgang Petersen brought an important historical epic event to the silver screens through the movie entitled Troy in 2004. The movie stars a list of Hollywood’s finest actors to play the role of Greek history’s prominent figures such as Achilles (Brad Pitt), Prince Hector (Eric Bana), Prince Paris (Orlando Bloom), Helen of Troy (Diane Kruger) and a whole lot more. However, the underlying question here is whether or not the events depicted in the movies is really what history told. The movie will be analyzed Continue reading...

Literature

1. How does Blanche’s fascination with teenage boys relate to her decline and fall?
Beginning with Blanches first marriage (114), the stage is set for her inclination towards young men to come back to harm her. Her experience led to an unsatisfying marriage with certain emotional attachments. With the feeling of being less than enough for her first young husband, the seed was planted that would feed her need to find love in the arms of younger men. This was the initial experience that led to real long term damage to the overall associated psyche. The crack that Continue reading...

Fences

Story explores the lives of two African American friends, Troy and Bono and their families illustrating their struggles as they face discrimination and racism. ‘Fences’ is an educative story that story highlights the problems and struggles of a typical African American family under biased ideologies of racism. “Fences” is a good comical story that is engaging, but has a sad ending.
Wilson presents an interesting play that explores and gives equal advantage to all the characters by developing their roles through their struggles. Lyons, Troy’s son before getting married to Rose had never experienced the fatherly side of Continue reading...

- Bathsheba Everdane’s relationships with Farmer Boldwood and Sergeant Troy do not succeed.
- There is no true love between Bathsheba and the two men.
- Although she takes long to realise it, Bathsheba’s true love is Gabriel Oak.
- A good marriage is founded on mutual love between the partners.
- Body
- A marriage should be based on honesty, patience, forgiveness and the willingness to help each other.
- People who plan to marry to ensure that they are both truly in love with each other.
- Relationships that end in lasting marriages are strong Continue reading...

This composition presents the relationship issues that arise from Bathsheba Everdane’s relationships with three men Gabriel Oak, Farmer Boldwood and Sergeant Francis Troy. This composition contrasts and compares the three relationships, and the Issues about marriage that people can learn from the novel. The relationships between Bathsheba and Boldwood and Bathsheba and Troy do not work, Bathsheba’s relationship ends in marriage. The love the two have for each other is genuine and they are bound to make it work since each of them is mature and has faced challenges to harden them. The relationship between Bathsheba and Continue reading...

Troy and Cory in “fences”

Troy and Cory are the two main characters in the story guided by disputes, antagonism and conflicts. The two characters present various similarities and diverse habits (Loukas et al. 890). Troy and Rose have a son, Cory, who is recruited in the college football team, an opportunity his father missed, as blacks could not feature in the football teams during his time. The football issue creates a conflict between them which results to a fight. Troy won the fight and sends Cory out of the family to take care of him. Building of the fences and the lives of Continue reading...

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 Continue reading...

Introduction

Fences is one of the great American plays of the 1950’s and as in most of Wilson’s plays it explores the theme of race relations. Most of the time, the play focuses on the main character which is Troy and his experiences in baseball in the segregated society which was prevalent in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Fences continues to harp on the main theme which is race relations during the extensive discussion Troy has with his workmates and friends especially in the aftermath of his career in sport. Due to the fact that Troy was poorly piad, he saves Continue reading...

Released in 2004, Troy is an epic war movie written by David Benioff, produced and directed by Wolfgang Peterson. The plot of the movie is loosely based on Homer’s Iliad. Music was composed initially by Gabriel Yared who worked on it for approximately a year before being replaced by James Horner. Vocals have been provided by Tanja Carovska while American singer and song writer Josh Groban and lyricist Cynthia Weil are responsible for the original composition of song for the movies end credits.
Music composition of Troy is engulfed by dramatic sequences in their real form. Composer Gabriel Continue reading...

August Wilson’s use of rhetoric devices

Most plays all over the world feature the work of August Wilson, a great play writer in the late twentieth century, who presented outstanding skills of utilizing literary devices appropriately. He received two Pulitzer drama prizes in two different decades to affirm his position as one of the greatest literacy minds (Gamerman 31). Having identified his career early, Wilson had to confront his family to allow him be a writer and not a lawyer as favoured by his mother and other family members. However, his zeal and commitment in writing make his material admirable whenever they come into use Continue reading...

The Past

The Iliad 3, Helen and Priam have a view of the battlefield of the Trojan war from the walls of the city of troy. In this text, a representation of the past, present and future of troy is represented in the conversations and descriptions that are made.
The past of Troy is indicated by the reference to the past heroes of the war, and the passage indicates on how they made sacrifices in the war. There is mention panthoos, Thymoites, Lampos, Klytios and hiketaon who is said to be a descendant (scion) of Ares. These individuals are said to Continue reading...

Critical thinking

The interaction between the African Americans and the white Americans was sour from the moment these two groups met. The white considered the Blacks as inferior people. What would be the situation if the Black people wielded more power than the white people?

Open ended question

Considering the manner in which Troy is selfish, describe the possible future relations between him and his son and Gabriel his brother. Troy’s son will certainly mature up into a man. What will be the relationship between the two then?

Open Ended question

Troy’s attitude is defensive and selfish. He disapproves of his wife Rose playing the Continue reading...

The major source of water in Troy is ground water, also referred to as well water, which is stored below the ground surface in large deposits. The water percolates to the surface where it is harvested. This water, however, might not be fit for human consumption, therefore, monitors on the physical and chemical compositions, and bacterial contaminants are necessary in order to ensure quality (Bungay 23-40).
The development of the Troy Water Supply System started in the early years of 1800’s. During these early stages of the project, spring water was supplied through wooden pipes. This was a Continue reading...

Act One, scene one

Fences by August Wilson was first performed in 1985. This paper will analyze its dramatic rhythm and the techniques that Wilson uses to tell his story, give it tension, expatiate on his themes and develop his characters. It will also address this central question: what is the significance of the title?

The set is conventional in one sense: it is the yard that fronts the Maxson household. It remains unchanged until the addition of some props in the final scene. This is Wilson’s basic space Continue reading...

Themes in August Wilson’s Fences

August Wilson’s Fences gives a clear description of the sufferings that many people, particularly people of African American decent, go through when they move to the city while on a poor family that really struggles to stay together. Wilson centers his focus on the head of the family, Troy Maxson, a 53 year old man who happens to be the key character in this play whose location is not clear though is set in the hard times of the 1950s. Other characters in the play include Rose Maxson (Troy’s second wife), Gabriel Maxson (Troy’s brother), Lyons Continue reading...

Drama Analysis of August Wilson’s Fences

At the beginning of the play, Fences, the audience gets to know about the family of Troy Maxon a garbage collector, and his friend Bono. The play depicts Troy as a man who responsibly supports his family. He does everything in his capacity to provide for his family and even gets a promotion to be a truck driver. He has a son from his previous relationship by the name Lyons. Lyons is struggling to make an impact as a musician, a path that his father did not approve. The audience also meets Continue reading...

The American Dream is about becoming your own person – struggling against impossible odds to meet a goal and thrive amongst your peers. Whether it is standing up to your father, or striving to succeed in professional baseball, the American Dream is the chance for a new life, one free of the shackles of the past. Both August Wilson’s ‘Fences’ and William Faulkner’s ‘Barn Burning’ feature protagonists who follow the American Dream, but in vastly different ways – Troy Maxon distinctly fails in his pursuit, while Sartorius Snopes is well on his way to accomplishing it. Both journeys feature Continue reading...

"Cathedral" and Fences: Sight and Stubbornness
Sight is a very prevalent theme in a great variety of fiction; it can often be a symbol for understanding, comprehension, and enlightenment. Hindsight and foresight are often rewarded as virtues, or at least play heavily into the plot of a story. A blind person is often thought to ‘see’, or comprehend, more than the normal person, and sometimes people are not aware of a shocking truth, despite it looking them straight in the face. These two scenarios are found in Raymond Carver’s short story “Cathedral" and August Wilson's play Fences, as Continue reading...

August Wilson – Fences

Introduction

Fences is one of the great American plays of the 1950’s and as in most of Wilson’s plays it explores the theme of race relations. Most of the time, the play focuses on the main character which is Troy and his experiences in baseball in the segregated society which was prevalent in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Fences continues to harp on the main theme which is race relations during the extensive discussion Troy has with his workmates and friends especially in the aftermath of his career in sport. Due to the fact that Troy was poorly Continue reading...

In August Wilson’s Fences, we follow Troy Maxon, a disillusioned, bitter middle-aged man who used to play baseball in his prime – however, since he played before the color barrier was broken in major league baseball, there was no chance for him to shine. This has left him a broken shell of a man who clings to what mild successes he had in the past and participates in an extramarital affair which tears his family apart.

This failure in baseball and other life pursuits is contrasted strongly with Jackie Robinson, the person who ended up actually breaking the color Continue reading...

According to Greek Mythology, the Trojan War actually began when Paris was selected to choose one of three goddesses as the most beautiful. Paris selected Aphrodite. Aphrodite was so grateful to be chosen as the most beautiful that she made Helen, also a beautiful woman, fall in love with Paris because Paris was in love with Helen. The only problem with this is that Helen was married to Menelaus. Both Menelaus and Helen are Spartans from Sparta. Paris is from Troy making him a Trojan.

After Helen fell in love with Paris, he then took Helen to Troy. Helen’ Continue reading...

Greek mythology as it exists today was a culmination of oral tradition that was part of the early Greek civilization. Different regions of the Greek empire had different heroes with their own traditions and thus Greek mythology was firmly tied to it geographical location. Geography and physical places/ space helped shape Greek mythology to a large extent. Homer’s Odyssey, Iliad and Hesiod’s Theogony are examples of Greek mythology where the myth is tied with the geographical space. With the mention of places these poets also driven by a certain ‘Panhellenic’ impulse-a desire to appeal to as many Continue reading...

Over the years, there has been a controversy about whether ancient sources give an accurate record of events as they happened during the Greek Bronze Age. To put matters to rest, several archaeologists have excavated some areas around ancient Greece and their discoveries suggest that the ancient records on the Bronze Age are not farfetched. From time immemorial, people have used stories, poems and other pieces of writing to preserve their most precious heritages. This has enabled generations after generations not only to gain an insight into the ancient Greece, but also other civilizations in the world as well. Continue reading...

In the film version of Troy, as in the original Iliad, several characters are motivated mainly by their passions and lusts far more than reason and ethics, and as a result bring considerable death, destruction and suffering to all concerned. Both Plato and Aristotle would have been highly critical of this lack of ethics, and actions that they would have regarded as coming from the basest motives of lust, anger, revenge and other passions. Paris, the young prince of Troy, becomes infatuated with Helen, the wife of King Menelaus of Sparta, and runs off with her. This destroys the Continue reading...

The Hero-Warrior Ideal in Western Literature

Stories of the hero-warrior in literature trace the progress of Western civilization and the inexorable influence of Christianity. The heroic ideal is one in which the accomplishments and legacies of great warriors have been passed on in stories originating in ancient populations, who adopted the virtues of the hero as their own. In this way, the moral and physical worthiness of a tribe or nation could be traced to the exploits of a mighty forbear. The Romans, for example, exhibited this phenomenon in their claims to have preserved and carried on the martial greatness of Troy. Heroic qualities of Continue reading...

Introduction

A pretty, articulate African-American woman stands before a University of Chicago audience to deliver a lecture on her latest book. She is Michelle Alexander, a highly acclaimed civil rights attorney and Associate Law Professor at Ohio State University. The Stanford Law School graduate is the author of the book, which discusses the modern effects of a viciously racist Jim Crow system on today’s society. Significant patterns have continued to emerge regarding racist voting practices in the United States. Is it little wonder, given the historical debauchery that has occurred? Various inconsistencies in prison policy practices (and voting rights Continue reading...

Love is an articulation of fondness and care towards another. It is a feeling that individuals cannot live without – regardless of where love comes from. It may be parental love, sibling love, friend love, or the kind that lasts forever and ends in marriage. There are those who are lucky in love, while there are still those who are deprived of it. That is the theme of the movie, "Far from the Madding Crowd", which explores the various kinds of love.
Far from the Madding Crowd is the story of Bathsheba Everdene, the young and beautiful mistress of a Continue reading...