Should a neglected, discriminated against, and misguided black man living in the mid-1900s with a spectacular but untapped talent for baseball be content or miserable? The play Fences, written by August Wilson, answers this question by describing the difficult journey of the main character, Troy Maxon. Troy, an exceptional baseball player in his youth, cannot break the color barrier and is prevented from playing in the big leagues. This being his main setback in life, Troy has a pessimistic view of the world. His attitude is unpleasant, but not without justification. Troy has a right to be angry, but it's questionable who he takes his anger out on. He regularly gets fed up with his sons, Lyons and Cory, for no good reason. Troy disapproves of Lyon's musical goals and Cory's football ambitions to the point that the reader can notice Troy's illogical way of expressing his discontents. Frank Rich's 1985 review of Fences in The New York Times argues that Troy's constant anger is not irrational, but expected. Although Troy's antagonism is misdirected, Rich is correct when he observes that Troy's endless anger is justified because Troy lives an extremely difficult life, facing racism, prison, and poverty. Troy Maxon lives a tumultuous life, beginning with his departure from his parents' home. at the age of fourteen. Living on a poor farm in the Deep South, Troy describes his father, who regularly beats him and only cares about work, as the devil. In Troy's dialogue with Bono and Lyons, Troy remarks, "My father turned to me, I could understand why the devil never came for him...because he was the devil himself" (Wilson 52). The most influential person in Troy's early life was, as Troy believes, the devil. His... middle of paper ... nevertheless, he essentially lived his life at a constant low point. Troy's anger is undoubtedly misguided, but completely acceptable given his struggles. Troy Maxon's story raises the question: Is it ever justifiable to pass judgment on someone without understanding their life story? After analyzing Troy's struggle and the resulting attitude, it seems that passing judgment is extremely risky. Without recognizing the early difficulties in Troy's life, it is easy to dismiss him and his cynical attitude. What we can learn from his story is obvious. Never judge someone for their seemingly unjustified attitude, because chances are it's completely defensible. Works Cited: Rich, Frank. “Theatre: Wilson’s Fences.” New York Times May 7, 1985: n. page. Print.Wilson, August. Fences: a play in two acts. New York, NY: New American Library, 1986.Print.