Lesson 1 Writing

 

Elements of Literature: Asides, Soliloquies, and Monologues


Asides, Soliloquies, Monologues


Assessing Character Using Asides, Soliloquies, Monologues

TROY MAXSON (last name a combination of Mason and Dixon)

A lot of what Troy says in the play are monologues in the form of stories he tells other characters gathered out back on the porch. The stories reflect not only Troy's character, but an African-American oral tradition and culture.

The blues songs referenced in the first scene are incorported in Troy's speech; the songs, and the experiences and legends communicated in the songs, help establish Troy as an authentic character of the time.


August Wilson does distinguish Troy's character from the legends and traditions, for example, at the end of the furniture story on pages 14-15, when Troy says "I ain't sold my soul or nothing like that, you understand." Troy won't accept material wealth, skill, or fame by compromising his soul; Troy relies mainly on hard work as a means to achieving his goals. His plan hasn't really worked out though:


"If my brother didn't have that metal plate in his head...I wouldn't have a pot to piss in or a window to throw it out of. And I'm fifty-three years old. Now see if you can understand that!" (page 28)

Character Analysis:

Your turn now...take a look at Troy's monologue on page 38 beginning "Like you?" and ending "You understand what I'm saying, boy?"

What are you looking for? We already know Troy's a fifty-three year-old garbage collector living in squalor in Pittsburgh; he's a large, black, man with little education and he once was quite a baseball player in the Negro Leagues.

So, take it from there...what else does this monologue tell the reader about Troy, both EXPLICITLY (directly) and what can we INFER (derive, imply)? Troy's certainly trying to pass along some wisdom to his son here. What is that "wisdom"? Given that Troy sees this advice as "wisdom", what does that tell us about his psychology and perhaps the socio-economic influence on his psychology?


Submit this assignment on the Lesson 1 Assignment Sheet.




NEXT: Lesson 1 Language Study--TROPES