Fences Cory Maxon Character Analysis

The Father-Son Dynamic Between Troy and Cory Maxon Conflict between parents and children over their future is not uncommon, nor is it something new in today’s society. It has and always will be a constant element within a family. In August Wilson’s play Fences, he writes about a family man named Troy Maxon who locks horns with his son Cory, and they’re in a constant dispute over his future. On one hand, Troy wants his son to gain some practical skills and work at the A&P supermarket so he has a solid starting point to build his future off of. On the other hand, Cory wants to pursue sports and eventually get into college, while working at the A&P. At first glance, it looks as if Troy’s disapproval is caused by selfish reasons, but despite his harsh actions and words he cares about his son and his well-being. He sees his past self in Cory, and is worried that he could possibly relive his past failures, which is why he is so adamant in denying his son the opportunities presented to him. This shows the struggles between fathers and sons in present times, wherein father try to do what they think is best for their sons even though they are likely to unintentionally hurt them in the process. In the early stages of the play, Troy is introduced as a hardworking …show more content…
After a brief physical altercation, he leaves home just as his father did when he was young. This would be the start of his undocumented journey of growth, that same that Troy went through, but in a different way. He ends up joining the Marine Corps, and returns home on the day of his father’s funeral. After meeting his sister and engaging in some small talk, they end up talking about his room. She says to him, “That’s what Papa call it. ‘Cory’s room’. It got your football in the closet.” (95) This shows that even after all their arguments and clashing ideals, Troy still clung to the memory of his son, showing that he did care about