Fences August Wilson Character Analysis
In the story Fences by August Wilson, there is a African-American family in the 1950’s which takes place in one setting which is the backyard of the Maxon’s. The play shows how this family resolves its conflicts. The main characters are Troy Maxon, Cory Maxson, and Rose Maxson. Troy and Cory have an very interesting father and son relationship, Troy always pushes Cory to the limits to the point where Cory becomes terrified of him and ends up loosing all respect for his father. The question is if Cory right to lose respect for his dad and my answer is yes because Troy ruins Cory’s hopes and dreams, he mentally breaks Cory, and Troy ends up breaking himself away from his whole family.
The reader might be asking how did Troy snap Cory’s hopes and dreams? Cory was an aspiring football player but Troy didn’t like that because he used to be in the MLB and discriminated against about his color. Also Cory didn’t keep his job at the AMP grocery store so Troy went to Cory’s high school and told the coach not to let Cory play any more and also he …show more content…
told a recruiter not to come recruit Cory. This is everything Cory has been working for. When he learned the news he went to his mom and said “ Papa done went to the school and told coach Zellman I can’t play football no more.. Told him to tell the recruiter not to come” (Wilson 57). You can tell by now that Cory is very upset and probably angry at his father. Wouldn’t you be upset if my parents didn’t let me do what you love the most?
The second point on why Cory is right to lose respect is because Troy also mentally broke Cory by being very harsh and always putting him down.
He would never show affection towards Cory and during the duration of the play, he would always scream at him. Some people will say he is trying to teach Cory obedience but not one time in the play did Troy laugh or have a good time with Cory, there is always something wrong that Cory did. An example would be after Cory asks why doesn't he like him and Troy responds with: “Like you, who the hell say I got to like you? What law is there say I got to like you? Wanna stand up here and ask an damn fool question like that. Talk about liking somebody. Come here when I talk to you... Straighten up god dammit! I asked you a question...What law does it say I got to like you?” (Wilson 37). After this speech I think that's where Cory starts losing respect for his father right after he screeches at
him.
The third and final reason why Cory is right to lose respect for Troy is because he is disloyal to Cory and his family after he had an affair with Alberta and ended up having and baby with her and told Rose to her face that he wants to stay with Alberta. It all started when Troy started staying out late and lied to Rose that he’s at the bar but really he was hanging out with Alberta. Troy lets down his family and friends even Bono after he figures out that Troy cheated. Bono says “ When you picked Rose, I was happy for you. That was the first time I knew you had any sense. I said... My man Troy know what he’s doing... I'm gonna follow this nigger... He might take me somewhere” ( August 62). It looks like Bono feels sad for his friend and now he doesn't see Troy as a role model anymore affair. Obviously Rose must feel disrespected and Cory probably lost all respect for his dad which can make sense because everything leading up to this event adds to Cory’s disrespect for his dad. Troy practically left his family and then said that he even wants to stay with Alberta which could make Rose think that Troy doesn't like her anymore.
Those were the reasons why it is right for Cory to lose respect for his dad. All of these examples added up and Cory couldn’t do it anymore. The examples were Troy wouldn’t let him follow his hopes and dreams, Troy mentally broke Cory, and he cheated on his family and friends. Some say he was just trying to teach Cory obedience and he just made mistakes but It can be proven that these mistakes piled inside of Cory’s head and messed him up to the point where Cory could not respect his father anymore.
The reader might be asking how did Troy snap Cory’s hopes and dreams? Cory was an aspiring football player but Troy didn’t like that because he used to be in the MLB and discriminated against about his color. Also Cory didn’t keep his job at the AMP grocery store so Troy went to Cory’s high school and told the coach not to let Cory play any more and also he …show more content…
told a recruiter not to come recruit Cory. This is everything Cory has been working for. When he learned the news he went to his mom and said “ Papa done went to the school and told coach Zellman I can’t play football no more.. Told him to tell the recruiter not to come” (Wilson 57). You can tell by now that Cory is very upset and probably angry at his father. Wouldn’t you be upset if my parents didn’t let me do what you love the most?
The second point on why Cory is right to lose respect is because Troy also mentally broke Cory by being very harsh and always putting him down.
He would never show affection towards Cory and during the duration of the play, he would always scream at him. Some people will say he is trying to teach Cory obedience but not one time in the play did Troy laugh or have a good time with Cory, there is always something wrong that Cory did. An example would be after Cory asks why doesn't he like him and Troy responds with: “Like you, who the hell say I got to like you? What law is there say I got to like you? Wanna stand up here and ask an damn fool question like that. Talk about liking somebody. Come here when I talk to you... Straighten up god dammit! I asked you a question...What law does it say I got to like you?” (Wilson 37). After this speech I think that's where Cory starts losing respect for his father right after he screeches at
him.
The third and final reason why Cory is right to lose respect for Troy is because he is disloyal to Cory and his family after he had an affair with Alberta and ended up having and baby with her and told Rose to her face that he wants to stay with Alberta. It all started when Troy started staying out late and lied to Rose that he’s at the bar but really he was hanging out with Alberta. Troy lets down his family and friends even Bono after he figures out that Troy cheated. Bono says “ When you picked Rose, I was happy for you. That was the first time I knew you had any sense. I said... My man Troy know what he’s doing... I'm gonna follow this nigger... He might take me somewhere” ( August 62). It looks like Bono feels sad for his friend and now he doesn't see Troy as a role model anymore affair. Obviously Rose must feel disrespected and Cory probably lost all respect for his dad which can make sense because everything leading up to this event adds to Cory’s disrespect for his dad. Troy practically left his family and then said that he even wants to stay with Alberta which could make Rose think that Troy doesn't like her anymore.
Those were the reasons why it is right for Cory to lose respect for his dad. All of these examples added up and Cory couldn’t do it anymore. The examples were Troy wouldn’t let him follow his hopes and dreams, Troy mentally broke Cory, and he cheated on his family and friends. Some say he was just trying to teach Cory obedience and he just made mistakes but It can be proven that these mistakes piled inside of Cory’s head and messed him up to the point where Cory could not respect his father anymore.