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Dreams Deferred: Exploring the Masculine Mystique in August Wilson’s Fences

Year 2017, Issue: 46, 117 - 136, 01.04.2017

Abstract

Using Robert Staples’ concept of “the masculine mystique,” this article explores the protagonist, Troy Maxson’s desire to conform the expectations of the masculine mystique in August Wilson’s Fences. Troy emerges from a battered past and as someone who once dreamed of swinging for the fences—playing professional baseball—but is consigned to being a garbage man. His perception of his existence and worth is inadequate mostly because he, as an “emasculated” man, cannot realize the American Dream economically and socially. By considering his masculinity within the standards of the masculine mystique, he creates pressures that can only be abated by removing the inadequate benchmarks defining him. Measuring himself by the term and concept of “imperialist, white supremacist, capitalist patriarchy,” yet unable to participate in the American capitalist enterprise, he is doomed to fail. Robert Staples’ concept of the masculine mystique provides a theoretical framework to understand the ongoing crisis in Troy’s masculinity. As a solution to this crisis, August Wilson highlights resistance to European American representations of African American manhood, promoting instead, a spiritual and cultural connection with the African American community and a recognition and appraisal of his ancestry. Unable to take off the lens of the masculine mystique that obscures his view of himself and the world, Troy is inclined to see himself as limited, confused and victimized

References

  • Friedan, Betty. The Feminine Mystique. New York: Dell, 1983. Print.
  • hooks, bell. We Real Cool: Black Men and Masculinity. New York: Routledge, 2004. Print.
  • Kimbrell, Andrew. The Masculine Mystique: The Politics of Masculinity. New York: Ballantine Books, 1995. Print.
  • Kimmel, Michael. Manhood in America: A Cultural History. New York: Oxford, 2012. Print.
  • Koprince, Susan. “Baseball as History and Myth in August Wilson’s Fences.” African American Review 40.2 (2006): 349-358. JSTOR. Web. January 10, 2016.
  • Kubitschek, Missy Dehn. “August Wilson’s Gender Lesson.” Alan Nadel, ed. May All Your Fences Have Gates: Essays on the Drama of August Wilson. Iowa City: University of Iowa Press, 1994. Print.
  • Majors, Richard, and Janet Mancini Billson. Cool Pose: The Dilemmas of Black Manhood in America. New York: Lexington Books, 1992. Print.
  • McDonough, Carla J. Staging Masculinity: Male Identity in Contemporary American Drama. Jefferson: McFarland & Co., 1997. Print.
  • Pereira, Kim. August Wilson and the African American Odyssey. Urbana: U of Illinois Press, 1995. Print.
  • Santo, Avi. “Baseball.” American Masculinities: A Historical Encyclopedia. Bret E. Carroll, ed. Thousand Oaks: Sage, 2003. Print.
  • Staples, Robert. Black Masculinity: the Black Male’s Role in American Society. San Francisco: Black Scholar Press, 1982. Print.
  • Thoreau, Henry David. Walden or Life in the Woods. The Norton Anthology of American Literature. Ed. by Nina Baym. 7th Ed. New York: Norton & Company, 2007. Print.
  • Weber, Myles. “Rescuing the Tragic Bully in August Wilson’s Fences.” Southern Review 50.4 (2014): 648-674. Project Muse. Web. January 4, 2016.
  • Wilson, August. Fences. New York: Theatre Communications Group, 2007. Print.
  • Wooden, Isaiah Matthew. “Fences.” Theatre Journal 63.1 (2011): 123- 125. Project Muse. Web. January 13, 2016

Dreams Deferred: Exploring the Masculine Mystique in August Wilson’s Fences

Year 2017, Issue: 46, 117 - 136, 01.04.2017

Abstract

Bu makale August Wilson’ın Fences adlı oyunundaki ana karakter Troy Maxon’un erkeklik krizini Robert Staples’ın “Erkeklik Gizemi” kuramı çerçevesinde inceleyecektir. Troy profesyonel bir beyzbol oyuncusu olup, dayatmacı toplumun önüne koyduğu engelleri aşmayı hayal ederken, çöpçü olur. Kendi varlığını ve kıymetini algılayamamasının sebebi Amerikan Rüyasını ekonomik ve sosyal olarak gerçekleştiremeyip kendini “eksik erkek” olarak görmesinden kaynaklanır. Troy erkekliğini “emperyalist, beyazı üstün gören, kapitalist ataerkil” terim ve kavramına göre değerlendirip, Amerikan kapitalist teşebbüsüne dâhil olamadığı için kendini başarısız olmaya mahkûm etmiştir. Robert Staples’ın “Erkeklik Gizemi” kuramı Troy’un erkeklik krizini açıklamaya yönelik bir çerçeve sunmaktadır. Bu krize bir çözüm olarak, August Wilson beyaz erkek-merkezli toplumsal anlayış tarafından oluşturulan ve dayatılan siyah erkeklik temsillerine karşı çıkmayı ve bu temsillere karşı Afrikalı Amerikalı toplum ile manevi ve kültürel bağlar kurmayı ve Afrika kökeninin bilincine varmayı savunur. Oyunda bunu başaramayan Troy, eril dayatmayı hak ettiğini düşünürken iktidarsız kalıp, kendini sınırlı, kafası karışmış, kurban edilmiş gibi görür

References

  • Friedan, Betty. The Feminine Mystique. New York: Dell, 1983. Print.
  • hooks, bell. We Real Cool: Black Men and Masculinity. New York: Routledge, 2004. Print.
  • Kimbrell, Andrew. The Masculine Mystique: The Politics of Masculinity. New York: Ballantine Books, 1995. Print.
  • Kimmel, Michael. Manhood in America: A Cultural History. New York: Oxford, 2012. Print.
  • Koprince, Susan. “Baseball as History and Myth in August Wilson’s Fences.” African American Review 40.2 (2006): 349-358. JSTOR. Web. January 10, 2016.
  • Kubitschek, Missy Dehn. “August Wilson’s Gender Lesson.” Alan Nadel, ed. May All Your Fences Have Gates: Essays on the Drama of August Wilson. Iowa City: University of Iowa Press, 1994. Print.
  • Majors, Richard, and Janet Mancini Billson. Cool Pose: The Dilemmas of Black Manhood in America. New York: Lexington Books, 1992. Print.
  • McDonough, Carla J. Staging Masculinity: Male Identity in Contemporary American Drama. Jefferson: McFarland & Co., 1997. Print.
  • Pereira, Kim. August Wilson and the African American Odyssey. Urbana: U of Illinois Press, 1995. Print.
  • Santo, Avi. “Baseball.” American Masculinities: A Historical Encyclopedia. Bret E. Carroll, ed. Thousand Oaks: Sage, 2003. Print.
  • Staples, Robert. Black Masculinity: the Black Male’s Role in American Society. San Francisco: Black Scholar Press, 1982. Print.
  • Thoreau, Henry David. Walden or Life in the Woods. The Norton Anthology of American Literature. Ed. by Nina Baym. 7th Ed. New York: Norton & Company, 2007. Print.
  • Weber, Myles. “Rescuing the Tragic Bully in August Wilson’s Fences.” Southern Review 50.4 (2014): 648-674. Project Muse. Web. January 4, 2016.
  • Wilson, August. Fences. New York: Theatre Communications Group, 2007. Print.
  • Wooden, Isaiah Matthew. “Fences.” Theatre Journal 63.1 (2011): 123- 125. Project Muse. Web. January 13, 2016
There are 15 citations in total.

Details

Primary Language Turkish
Journal Section Research Article
Authors

Vahit Yaşayan

Publication Date April 1, 2017
Published in Issue Year 2017 Issue: 46

Cite

MLA Yaşayan, Vahit. “Dreams Deferred: Exploring the Masculine Mystique in August Wilson’s Fences”. Journal of American Studies of Turkey, no. 46, 2017, pp. 117-36.

JAST - Journal of American Studies of Turkey