Family Relationships And Communication In Fences, By Jon Krakauer

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.

Moving forward to another conflict in this play, there are the generational clashes between Troy and both of his sons. Troy holds onto the past and clearly lets that influence how he raises his sons, with Lyon for example. Troy being in jail for fifteen years of Lyon’s life meant that he was not there in the very influential time for a young boy. It is safe to assume that this is a contributing fact as to why their relationship is so rocky. We can also see the generational clash between the two of them with how Troy reacts to the career path that Lyon has chosen for himself.

Cory is very aware that his father is envious of his athletic accomplishments. Troy also has no respect for Lyons and he does not support his dream to be a musician.

This argument between Cory and Troy makes their relationship start to crumble because Troy does not allow Cory to do what makes him happy. In my own opinion, parents and their teenage children have very difficult relationships because teenagers seem to think they are the adult and are capable of making their own decisions. When Cory wants to be an adult and make his

After understanding the protagonist’s heroic side, it is necessary to understand that he also had a tragic downfall and that he has certain weaknesses. Troy made sure to provide for his family materialistically, but unfortunately did not expose too much of his love to his children. He was able to reluctantly give Lyons ten dollars a week but that was not enough to help him make a living. Lyons states "I just stay with my music because that's the only way I can find to live in the world" (1.1.153). His dream is to be a musician. But maybe he needed more than ten dollars a week to conquer his dream? Maybe he needed some father to son affection?

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

In Troy’s relationship with his children, Lyon and Cory, he is physical present but emotionally checked out. Lyons is his older son from a previous marriage. Lyon’s is 34 yr old with a child of his own but continues to chase after a dream of becoming a musician without any source of income. Troy supplies him with money although apprehensive. He wants Lyon to get a job, take care of his duties, and stop living the “fast life”. “Yeah, I got it. You know why I got it? Cause I don’t throw my money away out in the streets. You living the fast life…wanna be a musician…running around in the clubs and things…then, you learn to take care of yourself. You aint gonna find me asking nobody for anything. I done spent too many years without” (Wilson, 2013, p.1064). Cory is Troy and Rose’s younger son who is being recruited by colleges for football. Troy sees his son’s dreams as parallel to his own dream and steers him away from following his dream. He fears that his son be an unsuccessful athlete. Troy makes it his duty not to sign the permission slip for the recruiters. “Ain’t no need for nobody come around here to talk to me about signing nothing” (Wilson, 2013, p. 1974). Cory questions his father “How come you ain’t never like me” (Wilson, 2013, p.1075)? We see that Troy thinks of his duties and responsibilities of caring for his children as obligations. “Like you? I go out of here

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

One of the differences that complicate their relationship is that they have grown up in completely different time periods. A great deal has happened between the times when Troy was growing to the time period that Cory is growing up in. This issue itself causes many other concerns. For instance, Cory is a very talented athlete. He would like to play football in college and would probably receive a scholarship

Even though Troy wasn’t fair to his wife, he 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 stems from the relationship he had with his father when he was a teenager. Without him knowing, Troy was very similar to his father, which was depicted very well in the film. Troy’s father “stayed right there 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 up with them crackers everyday…’cause I like you? You about the biggest fool I ever saw. It’s my job. It’s my responsibility! You understand that? A man got to take care of his family” (898). This scene in the movie showed more passion. A reader can read this scene in the play with whichever tone they choose, but in the movie, we are able to see the and feel the passion from what Troy was

Troy becomes desperate because he feels like he is not in control of anything anymore, so he stars an argument with Cory. Troy’s son tells him that he is not scared of him. Cory also tells Troy that he “don’t count around here no more” (2.4.1281). After Raynell was born, Troy lost his leadership with Rose and Bono, and now the readers/audience see that he also lost control over his son. While arguing, Cory makes other statements that make Troy feel defenseless. Cory sates, “You ain’t never done nothing for me but hold me back” (2.4.1281). He also says, “It ain’t your yard. You took Uncle Gabe’s money he got from the army to buy this house and then you put him out” (2.4.1282). Troy loses respect from his son, and Cory becomes a person that does not depend on his father anymore. Troy knows it’s true that he took Gabe’s money, and this statement coming from his some really hurts him. In act II, Troy is not the strong character that he used to be in act I. Even though he is still bitter and stubborn, these characteristics do not help him in anyway. His bitterness and stubbornness only ignite the ager that Cory has towards him. Cory even grabs a bat and starts swinging at Troy. Troy grabs the bat and starts taunting death: “Come on! It’s been you and me now!” (2.4.1283). Troy wants death to come, but he still wants to fight death. He is lonely and because he personifies death,

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 never notice anything she does for him and that brings pain to her. Cory has a fence up because he just wants his father to support him and love him like a father is expected to do. He doesn’t want to be like his father. In the journal, “Cory accuses Troy of being motivated by fear; he is afraid that his son will be better than he is.” Lyons thought his father wasn’t being a good dad to him because he always thought he wanted to borrow money.

The portrayal between, Willie and Troy as fathers, has had an impact in the development of their sons differently. Firstly, Willie has always had high hopes in his older son, Biff. Willie believed that in raising Biff, he will one day be successful, and ambitious. However, it is a pity that it never turned out that way. In fact, throughout the story, Biff reveals that he is not ambitious. “Hap, the trouble is we weren’t brought up to grub for money. I don’t know how to do it.” (Gioia, 2010) It is a shame that Willie is a hardworking man who dreams in success and Biff was not born with equal desire. It would not be a surprise if Willie felt heartbreak; to be unable to set an example for his son Biff to follow. On the other hand, Troy could be described as a character that is selfish. Throughout the story, “Fences” Troy reveals his selfishness when interfering with Cory’s potential in football, and telling him that working is more important. “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.” (Gioia, 2010) Undoubtedly, Troy’s interest is more concentrated in ensuring that the bills get paid, than to agree with Cory playing football. Furthermore Troy wants Cory to maintain that job because

Lyons fell into inconvenience however he knew how to get himself out on the grounds that Troy was detained while he was growing up. Cory got to be similar to his dad tenacious towards the end in any case pushed the limits of impediments and desires that the white men had for him, much the same as his dad did in gaining the driving occupation and defending himself. Troy's most youthful kid, Raynell, speaks to the purity of his childhood and the desire for the future potential outcomes that everybody has. The two most youthful kin sing in their daddy's old melody which demonstrates the noteworthy part Troy played in bringing up his youngsters. Troy Maxson adores his father and wishes things could have been more wonderful between them such as his old pup, the last association Troy has to his childhood.