Essay on An Analysis for the Play Fences

It is obvious to the audience that Troy and Cory simply do not get along. The two are constantly bickering, mostly about Cory's dream to play football at the college level. Since playing baseball did not get Troy anywhere, he feels that football will not benefit Cory and that Cory should "get recruited in how to fix cars or something where he can make a living" (8). Troy constantly denounces Cory's dream and pressures his son to quit the highschool football team so that he can work at the local grocery store. The verbal abuse of Cory by Troy is enough to make Cory question whether or not his own father even likes him, but it is not until after Troy's affair with Alberta is out in the open that Troy and Cory's unhealthy relationship reaches a whole new level.

His life is a routine; he tells Rose that he has nothing more to give than what he already does. He sees Cory as a responsibility rather than someone he should care for, “liking your black ass wasn’t part of the bargain.” (Wilson 1736). Troy isn’t afraid to say what he needs to say, “Troy is not someone who minces words. He says exactly what he feels, regardless of how that may affect the listener — whether the listener is his wife or his 17-year-old son.”

Troy’s personality is very conservative. He is an angry man who has been a victim of racial violence and allowed his bitterness to become a barrier to new opportunities that opened at this time. As a child Troy wanted out of his abusive father’s relationship. His father barely looked after his 11 children and had always puts himself first before anyone else. Instead, young Troy escapes north to Pittsburg ending himself in jail due to theft, which is where he meets his ace

Troy really believes despite being recruited it will still get him nowhere, he is convinced that he will be eventually dropped, will be disappointed and does not want him to end up like him-. He had decided a long time ago without his son’s knowledge that he will not be involved in any sports, he told his wife.

Almost everyone Troy encounters in the play, he betrays, for example taking away his son's dreams, and locking away his brother. One person Troy betrays is his son, Cory, out of spite and jealousy. Since Troy is Cory’s father he feels he can control his life even if it means hurting Cory, one way he does this is by taking away his dream, “Papa done went up to the school and told Coach Zellman I can’t play football no more.” (Act 1 Scene 4) Troy knows that this is what Cory wants to do, he wants to play professional football. Due to the fact that Troy’s baseball dream did not come true, he pulled Cory out of football, claiming that it was for his own good when in reality it was out of jealousy. Troy also betrays his brother by locking him in a mental hospital. In the beginning of the play, Troy claims he wants his brother to be free and explains that nobody should be locked up. Then towards the end of the play Rose tells Troy, “I said send him to the hospital, you said let him be free… now you done went down there and signed him to the hospital for half of his money.” Troy claims he wants his brother to be happy but truthfully he wanted half of Gabriel's money, and just did not want to admit it. In order to receive half of the money Troy took away Gabriel's happiness and betrayed

Troy’s relationship with his youngest son, Cory, was a prime example or his controlling nature. One major conflict between them was Troy Forbidding Cory from playing football. As said in the quote, “ If you go on down there to that A&P and see if you can get your job back. if you can’t do both...then you quit the football team you’ve got to take the crookeds with the straights ”(Act 1, Scene 3, Line 192) Troy is not happy with the fact that Croy quit his quit because of football practice. Troy is so against it because he was denied acceptance into a baseball team because of his race in his past. In a way troy thinks he his looking out for cory but deep down, as rose brings out in the next scene, he is haunted by his own

Troy took care of his family as a man should. He took care of his sons with all that he had, but the love for his family was not evident in his character, especially with what he did to Rose. Cheating on Rose was a very selfish, and disrespectful act that showed no love towards his family. Troy’s behavior does not derive from racism, but stems from the relationship he had with his father when he was a teenager. Without him knowing, Troy was very similar to his father. His father “stayed right here with his family. But he was just as evil as he could be” (Wilson 905). Troy’s description of his father was the same person he was. In his conversation with Cory he says to him: “like you? I go out of here every morning…bust my butt…putting gup with them crackers

This situation makes me wonder if he is actually scared that Cory will be an amazing athlete and will be better than him. Troy maybe jealous that his son has opportunities to succeed that he never had, no matter how great of an athlete he was, he could have never made it to the pros because of his skin color. Now his son is being recruited by professional teams to play for them. Troy may be against this because he doesn't want his son to be able to live the dream that he was never able to live. This makes their father son relationship very interesting. It is said that fathers typically want their sons to be better off then they are, especially not very wealthy people. You would think in this situation Troy would support Cory in what he wants to do and be happy for him that he has such wonderful opportunities. Troy maybe be acting like this because Troy still lives in a dream world and still thinks he a great base ball player. He has trouble accepting that his

Troy ended up living life with a bittersweet taste due to his mistakes that he has taken throughout the years. The poem “Dreams Deferred” by Langston Hughes, describes Troy Maxson’s dreams. He was upset and unquiet. He was frustrated because of the fact that he could not accomplish his dreams he hankered for so long. For example, in the poems it states “ Or fester like a sore”(Hughes 617). Troy’s failed dreams are like a sore, hunting and scaring him, he is afraid of the reality. Moreover, He is always caviling everyone telling them that he could not make it into the major leagues, because he was colored. Troy is living in denial all of his life while risking his whole family’s dreams and goals they want to chase. Rose Maxson’s dreams were half- way accomplish. “I took all my feelings, my wants and needs, my dreams…and buried them inside you. I planted a seed and watched and prayed over it. I planted myself inside you and waited to bloom” (Wilson 1062). She was devoted to her husband, a worthy wife, and an extraordinary mother to Cory her son, stepson Lyons and stepdaughter Raynell. Rose did not asked for more than love from her beloved husband Troy and their children. Cory’s dreams were squashed, because of his father Troy Maxson. Cory wanted to play football, he asked his parents for permission, but Troy was the only one that opposed because he felt jealous towards his own son. Yet, Troy did not wanted his own son getting hurt as he did, when he tried to get into the major leagues. Even though, Cory could not make his dreams come true. He could find relief in the Marines Corps where he could finally be someone. Earning respect from his family members. The general theme was dreams deferred as the poem. Those dreams no one of the Maxson family achieved except for Rose, that despite the slip-up from her

Troy is not willing to let Corey live the life he dreams of, causing a very tense relationship. Corey and Troy's relationship is very bitter and tense, caused primarily by the past experiences of Troy's life. Troy blames racism for crushing his dreams and He cannot seem to let go of the past. So, when Corey follows Troy's footsteps in sports, Troy is unwilling to let Corey do what he could not. It is easy to see that Troy is both jealous and protective of Corey, not wanting him to get let down that his race gets in the way

Troy understands that he had hurt his son by not signing the permission papers. However, being an excellent baseball player himself, he learned that chances for a black man are not always equal in this country.  He boldly believes that the white men will not let his son Cory get anywhere with that football stuff and doesn?t want him to be hurt just like he was.  It is exemplified in Troy?s words, ?I decided seventeen year ago that boy wasn?t getting involved in no sports.  Not after what they did to me in the sports.?

The members of the family that makes the most effort to keep the family level is Troy?s wife, Rose. The narrator tells us that Rose is a gentle woman. She cares a great deal for her family and her husband, despite the challenge of making her home a positive environment under the strains of a man with such impossible qualities. The author explains her reasons for enduring Troy by saying that ? her devotion to him stems from her recognition of the possibilities of her life without him: a succession of abusive men and their babies, a life of partying and running the streets, the Church, or aloneness with its attendant pain and frustration? (526; I, 1). In light of the fact that Troy is a good man and provides for their family in a way of his duty, Rose loves and supports him and ?either ignores or forgives his faults, only some of which she recognizes? (526; I, 1). Despite his love and respect for his wife, Troy acts extremely disrespectfully towards Rose. Due to the lack of love and respect that Troy was shown as a boy, he does not know feelings to his family. He talks down to his wife as if she were a child, while at the same time he declares his love for her to his friend, Bono. Troy?s fault, however, in declaring his love for his wife and family. He says, ?I love Rose? (555; II, 1), but when the time comes for him to show his love, he only disrespects her. When Rose asks Troy what he and Bono are talking about one

One of Troy’s major flaws is his obsession with having a practical career and a steady income. He claims that, although he does not “like” his son, he will always work hard to provide for him because “It’s my job. It’s my responsibility… A man got to take care of his family.” (Wilson 38). He cares very deeply that his sons are also able to guarantee income, even if it costs them their passion. Troy disapproves of his son Lyons decision to pursue

Troy becomes so wrapped up in his own misfortunes and bitterness that he fails to realize what strength his family really has (Zirin). They are trying and willing to help him but he is unable to fathom the possibility of that because he is so far gone. Troy says “…Come on! It’s between you and me now!

    In Act I and some of Act II the audience sees many disagreements  between Cory and Troy about Cory playing sports. In Troy's past after he was released from jail he went to play baseball, but as Troy claims, he was not allowed to play due to skin color. Troy is then placing this stipulation onto Cory when he wants to play football. Troy made the statement, “I told that boy about that football stuff. The white man ain’t gonna let him get nowhere with that football. I told him when he first come to me with it. Now you come telling me he done went and got more tied up in it. He ought to go and get recruited in how to fix cars or something where he can make a living.” (Act I  scene I ). Troy makes this statement to his wife, Rose, after she tells him of Cory getting recruited college football. In this Troy is thinking of his past when he went to play baseball and he was not accepted to play. In