Troy explains to Rose why he will not allow Cory to play football and tells her that she’s been mothering Cory too much. She then tells Troy that Cory wants to make him proud, and all he wants to hear from his father is “Good job, son.” (19). To make matters worse, Troy has been having an affair with another women named Alberta. He later admits to his wife that he slept with someone else and got her pregnant (30). Troy argues with Rose about why he did it.
Even though Rose is a great wife to Troy, he still is so discontent with his life that he cheats on her. Troy tells Rose on page 69, "It ain't about nobody being a better woman or nothing. Rose, you ain't the blame. A man couldn't ask for no woman to be a better wife than you've been" (Wilson, 1986). This shows that Troy was fortunate enough to have Rose as his wife, but he was so unhappy with his life he found someone else to be with and love.
Other minor characters show this interpretation also. The title, Fences, is both literal and symbolic. Throughout the play, Troy is building a fence with his son Cory. However, Troy procrastinates building the fence and goes to Taylor’s all the time. Cory says, “ He been saying that the last four or five Saturdays, and then he don’t never do nothing, but go down to Taylor’s” (29).
They do not have a strong relationship and are constantly arguing throughout the play. Cory and Troy both share an interest in sports. Cory has a passion for football whereas Troy has a passion for baseball. Troy has always wanted to be on a baseball team but couldn’t because of his skin color and it’s too late for him to pursue his dream, for he is too old. However, his son Cory was offered
Troy is concerned with his own feelings instead of others. He assumes he is right in every situation, consequently, he loses his family. Furthermore, Rose defends herself and her family. Although Troy desperately attempts to control her she does not allow it. She supports Cory during the football recruitment.
Once home he decided not to attend because of the distant relationship between him and his father. Rosa lets Cory know that not attending Troy’s funeral does not make him a man or solve anything. Cory and his sister Raynell started thinking about the good things and lessons that their dad did teach them even though he had a weird way of doing because of his past hurts and disappointments but meant well. Cory was going through the reconnecting phrase (p.276), which is the more realistic perception of the parent, typically accompanied by a greater appreciation of the parent as an individual. Cory is now realizing how his dad just wanted the best for him and was trying to shield him from many life disappointments also make sure if it did happen that he was tough enough and prepared as a man.
Rose continued to be faithful to him and continued to look forward to working things out with him and still maintain the household.After hearing Troy's mistress has died during the birth of the baby, Rose took the responsibility of taking care after the baby. “A motherless child has got a hard time.From right now...this child has a mother. But you a womanless man.”(Act Two: Scene 3). After the death of Troy, Cory came to tell
Television sitcoms of the 1950’s through the 1990’s demonstrated the values and structure of the American family by portraying stereotypes. Since television sets became mainstream and entered almost every American home, the content of American sitcoms has reflected the culture of the times. Thus, as the popular American sitcoms of the 1950’s suggest, families living in the 1950’s were very tightly grouped and did everything together with roles of males and females clearly defined. In the 1950’s women have the housecleaning and child care and men worked, providing for the family. In the sixties, women acquired more freedom in their lives.
He persistently criticizes and neglects his two sons, which thus draws them away from him.Troy pushes Lyons away by refusing to hear him play his "Chinese music". He also scars hisrelationship with his other son, Cory, by preventing him from playing football and rejecting his onlychance to get recruited by a college football team. Also, Troy states that Cory's things will "be on theother side of that fence" when he kicks Cory to the street. Through this scene Troyacknowledges the fence as an actual, physical divide between him and his son. It additionallyconveys the emotional barrier that Troy puts between them.
“So, Lesley.” My friend turned to stare at me with an expectant gaze. “Are you going to go?” How am I supposed to answer that question? What if nobody will end up going? What if I end up alone? I’d be sitting in a corner and twiddling my thumbs, waiting for it to be over.