Rose Maxson: How to Live With a Broken Heart

What would be your reaction if you have been married for over 18 years, and your spouse unexpectedly tells you he is fathering a baby from an illicit relationship? In August Wilson’s play, ‘Fences,’ when Rose started to doubt the mysterious disappearances of her husband, Troy Maxson, she asked him to build a fence around their house. Although Troy did not figure out from the beginning why Rose would ask for such a thing, he kept on with his duty, while she was afraid of what she saw coming… When the fence (which symbolizes the protection of Rose and her family) was finally built, it was too late. Nevertheless, Rose was a loyal woman; she kept caring for Troy’s family like her own, and strongly dealt with having to live with a broken heart while inside a house that used to be her home.

When Rose married Troy she gave herself to him in body and mind; she was the most loyal wife any man could ask for. In the play, August Wilson introduces Rose as a faithful woman, “She [Rose] is ten years younger than Troy, her devotion to him stems from her recognition of the possibilities of her life without him […] She recognizes Troy’s spirit as a fine and illuminating one and she either ignores or forgives his faults” (1056). Rose use her wisdom to maintain her husband’s happiness; she fed him with a variety of meals, kept his clothes clean and ironed, and pleased him in bed from Friday at sunset until Monday at sunrise –every man’s dream come true.

According to Courant Theater Critic Deborah Hornblow’s article, ‘`Fences' Is a Pleasure to Scale,’ [Rose is] “a loyal wife who has held tight to her husband of 18 years despite her own disappointments.” However, Rose did not only stay loyal to Troy for 18 years, she was loyal for seven more years –when Death took away Troy. For instance, since the moment Rose told Troy, “Move out the way so the marrying kind could find me” (1057), Troy realized he found the woman of his dreams. Troy knew Rose would be loyal to him even when everybody knew how Troy used to say he “Eye all the women” (1055). In addition, Rose was treating Troy like a god on a pedestal.

Comparable to Anne Bradstreet’s poem, ‘To My Dear and Loving Husband,’ Rose’s love and devotion to Troy was beyond surreal. For instance, when we read: “I prize thy love more than whole mines of gold, Or all the riches that the East doth hold. My love is such that rivers cannot quench, nor ought but love from thee give recompense” (463). We might say those lines perfectly suit Rose’s commitment towards Troy. Her love was more valuable than pure gold, and it would not extinguish –for now… Rose could not see herself without Troy. She knew she was more valuable than richness; although Troy had his particular way of telling Rose that he loved her –especially when he was drunk.

Rose was clever; she knew the best way to enjoy a good and long night of sex with Troy was letting him drink alcohol with his best friend, Bono, and inviting Bono to stay over for supper. Nevertheless, Bono was not only useful to Rose for her sex plans; her tenderness –with a double intention twist made Bono felt guilty when he realized Troy was being unfaithful to her. For instance, one Saturday, when Troy returned to the house –after being gone for hours with the excuse of going to watch baseball, Rose asked him about the score of the game. She knew how much he loved baseball. Thus, when he changed the topic and quickly started to get affectionate (with no success) by touching her waist, she obviously figured out what was going on.

Rose was not naïve; she knew Troy was playing her in the bad way, and yet, she started praying to God to protect her for what she saw coming. Troy started to build a fence over their house, and Bono helped Troy understand why she asked to build it. Bono told Troy, “Some people build fences to keep people out…and other people build fences to keep people in. Rose wants to hold on to you all. She loves you” (1089). Troy did not pay attention; he was too busy feeding his sexual needs with a woman (Alberta) who was aware of his family. Alberta did not care at all –because for her it was easier to be the lover: the one who only had to open her legs, instead of cooking him meals, ironing his clothes, and doing the rest of the chores like Rose used to do for Troy and their family.

According to the reference guide written by Sandra G. Shannon for The African-American Experience website, “Bono […] moves quickly to dissuade him [Troy] from seeing more of Alberta and causing unbearable anguish for Rose. But Troy ignores the wise advice of his friend and plunges even further into the relationship.” Troy was blind; nevertheless, Rose continued to be a loyal wife to him, an excellent mother to their son and a good woman to his family and friends –even after Troy broke her heart with heartbreaking news.

Rose’s biggest nightmare had come; Troy not only confessed to her he cheated on her with Alberta, but added he and Alberta were expecting a baby. Now, some wives who had been cheated on might say Rose could forgive Troy’s affair. However, when there is a baby involved in this unpleasant situation, the wife could get a divorce, or spend the rest of her marriage under a cold war full of resentments. Rose was not the exception; she told Troy, “I done tried to be everything a wife should be. Everything a wife could be. Being married eighteen years and I got to live to see the day you tell me you been seeing another woman and done fathered a child by her” (1092). Rose decided to be just a woman, and decided to no longer be a wife to him.

Rose’s reaction of opening her eyes and taking a step forward in an unpleasant circumstance, was similar to Sammy’s reaction; the main character of John Updike’s ‘A&P.’ For instance, Sammy was a cashier at the A&P grocery store. He was a 19-year-old boy who always was making fun of the customers. Sammy was amazed by the beauty and personality of one particular girl who used to walk wearing a bathing suit while buying at the store –his ‘Queenie.’ One day, Sammy’s boss, Lengel, noticed Sammy’s Queenie along with two of her friends were walking around the store in their bathing suits. Thus, Lengel decided to let Sammy’s Queenie know the grocery store was not a beach, and their customers were decent. Sammy did not like how his boss spoke to his lovely imaginary girlfriend. In response, Sammy told Lengel that he should not have spoken to her in that tone, and quit his job. Just like Sammy, Rose had to take the lead and follows her instincts, even when both (Sammy and she) knew the following experience would be intense.

Troy had destroyed everything Rose had built. He also had the goal to play the victim when he clearly was the guilty one. Troy claimed he had many responsibilities, and he just needed a time for himself –a time with Alberta. Rose was very upset –who could not possibly feel the same way? She responded to him with some other questions:

“Don’t you think I ever wanted other things? Don’t you think I had dreams and hopes? What about my life? What about me. Don’t you think it ever crossed my mind to want to know other man? That I wanted to lay up somewhere and forget about my responsibilities? That I wanted someone to make me laugh so I could feel good? […] But I held on to you, Troy. I held you tighter” (1094).

Rose was devastated; her heart was broken into a thousand pieces. On the other hand, Alberta died after having Troy’s baby girl, Raynell. Yet, Troy was no fool; he knew how prodigious Rose’s heart was. Thus, three days after Raynell was born; he asked Rose if she could be the mother of his daughter. Rose responded, “From right now…this child got a mother. But you a womanless man” (1099). Rose had to learn how to lick her wounds and continue moving forward. She was always saying how the time was changing; she followed her own advice.

According to the article ‘Essay on Feminist Perspective’ in DirectEssays.com (website), “Rose Maxson proves that a woman in the 1950's can have the upper hand. Rose is the heart of the Maxson family and the peacemaker […] She feels that family is the richest resource anywhere.” Although the play focuses on Troy, Rose was the rock of the house. She stayed away from Troy, and came closer to God –by assisting at the church on Sunday mornings.

Unfortunately for Troy, his time had come to the end. Although he died seven years after Raynell was born, he was living like a dead person since Rose chose to be just the mother of their son, Cory. Troy not only lost Rose’s respect and love, he also lost Bono’s friendship, and gained the contempt of Cory. Even his new job as a truck driver made him feel alone and dead inside. On the other hand, Rose was raising Raynell as the girl she always wanted to have. In addition, she found peace with herself, and when Troy died, she let him rest in peace by honoring him as the man she married 25 years ago.

Rose Maxson, how could she live with a broken heart? For, any man who has a wife like Rose should build a fence made of rose petals around her, and do not let any fantasy –like Alberta ruin their reality. Rose represents the power of a loyal wife: all her wisdom, struggles, tenderness and passion, her faith in God and devotion to her family. The woman who reassembled her heart after it had been broken and still…still had the power to stand on her feet.

☻/ L♥ve and ✗O✗O
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Works Cited

"Essay on Feminist Perspective." Direct Essays. N.p., 31 Dec. 1969. Web. Dec. 2013. .

Gardner, Janet E., and Berverly Lawn, eds. Literature: A Portable Anthology. Third ed. Boston: Bedford St. Martin's, 2013. Print.

Hornblow, Deborah. "`Fences' Is a Pleasure to Scale." The Courant. Hartford Courant, 19 Jan. 2007. Web. Dec. 2013. .

Shannon, Sandra G. "August Wilson’s Fences : a Reference Guide." The African American Experience. Greenwood Publishing Group, n.d. Web. 3 Dec. 2013. .