In Fences by August Wilson, Troy Maxon has a unique relationship with both of his sons Lyons and Cory. The way Troy would treat his sons could have an impact on their mind and the way they grew up. Many emotions sprout in this parent-child relationship from hatred to afraid and to anger. A parent’s teachings and treatment of their child will always leave an effect on the child and where they end up in life. Their life could be either good or bad.
As a father, Troy would be expected to give his son Cory the best advice a son could get. Troy and Cory don’t really get along well. Cory never showed any love for his father and vice versa. It can be said that Cory is inspired by his father’s love for sports and he wants to do what he finds fun. In the end all Cory wants to do is to make Troy proud. This is seen when Rose tells Troy in an argument about Cory’s choices, “Everything that boy do… he do for you. He wants you to say “Good job, son.” That’s all.” (Wilson 42).
Cory’s mother, Rose, knows and cares more for Cory from this quote itself. The reader starts to really question Troy’s love for Cory and so does Cory himself. Cory asks Troy while working on the fence, “How come you ain’t never liked me?” (40). Based on this quote, it shows that Cory feels he is treated by his father in a way that makes him feel not loved. Troy answers this question by stating, “Liked you? Who the hell say I got to like you?… You eat everyday… Got a roof over your head… Got clothes on your back… What you think that is?… It’s my job. It’s my responsibility!” (40-41) This answer tells us everything. Troy doesn’t “like” his son.
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Troy takes care of his family including Cory because it’s his responsibility as he mentioned in the play. Maybe if Troy hadn’t had such a hard life back in his time, he would’ve treated his family better. Cory soon joins the military and comes back to visit his home when Troy has passed. Cory says to his mom with his buried anger and hatred from the past, “I’m not going to Papa’s funeral” (99). Cory takes this opportunity to finally say “no” to his father.
Troy and his older son Lyons have a weird relation ship as well. Lyons was born from another woman not Rose and his father. Troy hasn’t really been around much in his life. This is really shown when Lyons goes to ask for money from his father (Troy) during his payday. Lyons says that “I come by to see you…ask for ten dollars and you want to talk about how I was raised. You don’t know nothing about how I was raised.” (21-22).
Troy believes that Lyons is always relying on him but, Lyons comes back to visit his father one day and tries to return to his father the money that he had borrowed from him. “(Going into his pocket.)) Says, look here, Pop…” (49). He takes out the 10 dollars he borrowed and gives it back to Troy. It seemed here that Troy was surprised and didn’t really like the idea of his son being independent, so he goes on to tell Lyons, “Naw . . . you go on and keep that for the next time you want to ask me.” (49). They argue back and fourth until Rose finally makes Troy take the money.
The relationship between the Troy and his sons in “Fences” by August Wilson is one that made an impact on their decisions, Troy tried to escape from his father, but the ends up allowing his father to get to him and treats his family the same but at least gives them their basic needs. This also happens with Lyons and Cory who tried to push their father away from their lives. However, they end up letting their father get to them until the end of Troy’s life. This relationship can be viewed as both positive and negative.
For example, Troy’s treatment towards his kids was so bad that it’s possible they won’t treat their kids in the future the same way because Troy is their example of what not to do. The negative side of this is that Cory and Lyons won’t ever be able to think back to their “loving” fatherly figure as they grow up. A parent’s teachings and treatment of their child will always leave an effect on the child and where they end up in life. This was a big thing in the play and is something a lot of people in life can relate to.
