August Wilson’s Fences details the lives of the Maxson family as they navigate through the difficulties of financial stability, racism, and family. Troy, man of the house and worker for the Sanitation Department, lives in Pittsburgh with his wife, Rose, and youngest son, Cory. Driven by his experience with racial discrimination in baseball, Troy encourages Cory to focus on work instead of his dreams to play collegiate football, causing Cory to resent Troy. When Troy has an affair with Alberta, a woman from Taylors’ bar, he shares the news of his infidelity and fatherhood with Rose. She agrees to raise Troy’s new baby, Raynell, but breaks off her relationship with him out of anger. When Troy passes away from a heart attack and Cory returns from
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While working on a fence for Rose, Cory and Troy argue about balancing football practice, work, and their relationship. When Cory explains that he was recruited to a college football team, he asks Troy to sign the papers that allow him to play. However, Troy refuses because Cory did not secure his job at the A&P store. Troy wants Cory to avoid making the same mistakes he did and ignores Cory’s plea to continue playing. When Cory hears Troy’s refusal, he becomes agitated, asking why Troy dislikes him. Troy argues, “You my flesh and blood. Not ‘cause I like you! Because it’s my duty to take care of you. I owe a responsibility to you!” (1.3.38). Instead of caring for Cory with love, Troy asserts that he only feels obligated to care for him because it is his requirement as a father. Troy justifies his dislike for Cory and their strained relationship by viewing Cory as a responsibility, demonstrating Troy’s lack of love for his son and inadequate effort to maintain a healthy connection with …show more content…
Despite Troy’s act of betrayal, Rose takes in his child from another mother and cares for her as if she were her own, demonstrating her attachment to family and inclination to continue establishing nurturing connections. She does not want the child to grow up without a mother, compelling her to adopt Raynell and love her no matter what. Rose sets aside her own aspirations to form new relationships in her family, demonstrating her powerful love as a result of her family’s ties. Since Rose remains faithful to Troy and maternally welcomes Raynell despite the heartbreak she feels as a result of Troy’s cheating, Rose’s actions reveal that building family bonds will initiate open acceptance and appreciation. Troy and Rose’s contrasting ideas of family causes them to destroy and build connections that result in depression and contentment. Troy does not believe in the importance of family, only viewing them as a duty and showing them no love, which results in the misery of the family. On the other hand, Rose is willing to cultivate close connections in her household, bringing delight to her loved ones. Fences describes how different aspects of relationships drastically affect one’s emotional
While working on a fence for Rose, Cory and Troy argue about balancing football practice, work, and their relationship. When Cory explains that he was recruited to a college football team, he asks Troy to sign the papers that allow him to play. However, Troy refuses because Cory did not secure his job at the A&P store. Troy wants Cory to avoid making the same mistakes he did and ignores Cory’s plea to continue playing. When Cory hears Troy’s refusal, he becomes agitated, asking why Troy dislikes him. Troy argues, “You my flesh and blood. Not ‘cause I like you! Because it’s my duty to take care of you. I owe a responsibility to you!” (1.3.38). Instead of caring for Cory with love, Troy asserts that he only feels obligated to care for him because it is his requirement as a father. Troy justifies his dislike for Cory and their strained relationship by viewing Cory as a responsibility, demonstrating Troy’s lack of love for his son and inadequate effort to maintain a healthy connection with …show more content…
Despite Troy’s act of betrayal, Rose takes in his child from another mother and cares for her as if she were her own, demonstrating her attachment to family and inclination to continue establishing nurturing connections. She does not want the child to grow up without a mother, compelling her to adopt Raynell and love her no matter what. Rose sets aside her own aspirations to form new relationships in her family, demonstrating her powerful love as a result of her family’s ties. Since Rose remains faithful to Troy and maternally welcomes Raynell despite the heartbreak she feels as a result of Troy’s cheating, Rose’s actions reveal that building family bonds will initiate open acceptance and appreciation. Troy and Rose’s contrasting ideas of family causes them to destroy and build connections that result in depression and contentment. Troy does not believe in the importance of family, only viewing them as a duty and showing them no love, which results in the misery of the family. On the other hand, Rose is willing to cultivate close connections in her household, bringing delight to her loved ones. Fences describes how different aspects of relationships drastically affect one’s emotional