August Wilson's Play - Fences

Nina Lynn

October 31, 2012

Fences

In August Wilson's play, "Fences", Troy's relationship with his son Cory is good and clear example of how he failed to make that connection or bond with his son. Cory is overly excited because he was chosen for a college football scholarship. Cory loves sports just like his father and he feels this is the only chance he's going to college. However, Troy is totally against Cory going off to school to play football.

One of the biggest let downs in Troy's life is the fact that he wasn't allowed to play pro baseball. Even though he was well known and liked in the Negro Leagues, he couldn't make it to the majors because of discrimination. Troy won't let his son go off to school and play football because that he doesn't want Cory to go through the same thing he went through. Everyone surrounding Troy tries to make him see that times have changed, and that Cory won't have to go through the same struggles he went through. His wife Rose tells him, "They got lots of colored boys playing ball now. Baseball and football" (1.1.2068). Troy's best friend, Bono, piggy back's off Rose, "Times have changed, Troy, you just come along too early" (1.1.2068).Troy ignores them all of this and tells his son, "The white man ain't gonna let you get nowhere with that football noway" (1.3.2081).Troy just won't accept that times have changed. Instead of going along with what everyone around him is saying, he follows his own mind, based on his own prior experience. Instead of allowing his son to go play football and go to college, Troy tears down his son's dream; he refuses to sign the permission slip and stops the college recruiter from coming to his house. Cory accuses his father of doing this out of jealousy. "You just scared I'm gonna be better than you, that's all" (1.4.2092). Even though Troy never admits it, he does believe Cory has the ability of being greater than him. He tells Rose, "I got sense enough not to let my boy get hurt playing no sports" (1.3.2083). In Troy's head, he doesn't end Cory's career out of jealousy, but out of a serious urge to make sure his son is safe.

In the end, Troy loses his son. Troy goes with what he believes is right, despite all the evidence that says the opposite. Troy misses out on that father and son bonding time by doing the wrong thing for what he thinks are the right reasons.