Troy Maxson's Relationship In Fences

In the drama play “Fences”, by American Playwright August Wilson, introduces his readers to a hardworking African American man, that fights to keep his family afloat during the late 1950s. In this play, that is built around the main character, Troy Maxson, you can observe the many life obstacles and lessons that he has undergone in result of being raised by a hard-hearted father.
Considering his unpleasant upbringing, Troy became a “trapped bird” yearning to be free but can’t, simply because he couldn’t let go of his past. So instead of dealing with his past abuse, he puts up this “mental barrier” that fences himself in from others, even his family. Obtaining this tactic that helped him through rough times from when he was younger, really

made it hard for him to consider the feelings of others and the consequences of his actions.
For instance, take his relationship he had with his son, Cory.

Cory and Troy’s relationship is not like your average father and son relationship such as playing football in a park or taking fishing trips etc. It was more like his son reliving his life as a child. See when Troy was younger his dreams were to become a major baseball league player, but his desire was shortly turned down
by what he felt was racism towards African Americans. In result, of this set back in his life. He then goes to mess up Cory’s chance to play football. He went as far as telling the coaches that “his son was no longer playing football anymore” and disregarded all the opportunities it could have promised Cory. This act of protection and somewhat envy, caused a major controversy between the two.
Furthermore, it also shows in the play how his marriage crumbled into pieces because of his affair with a women named Alberta. Though, not only did he step out on his wife, but he conceived another child in his acts of adultery. This tore Rose Maxson up inside to know that while she was being a obedient house wife, her husband was out with another woman. She then goes to take the child, Raynell, in as one of her own because of his mistress passing due to childbirth, but his wife was no longer is “other half”

anymore.
In addition, to his disloyalty. Troy's true colors towards the people that cares for him the most, really showed when he bought a house for him and his family, from the money his brother Gabriel received from the government for serving in World War ll. He then ends up signing Gabriel away to a asylum because of his incompetence.
As you can see Troy has become everything that he feared, his father. From taking away an opportunity for his child to be successful to having and affair. He is truly what he tried all his life not to be. “Sometimes I wish I hadn’t known my daddy. He ain’t cared nothing about no kids.”(50)
In conclusion, Troy Maxson is what August Wilson, symbolizes as a fence that excluded all of his emotions of love, care, and joy inside of his hardened heart because of his cruel and unusual punishment as child, that scarred him till the day he died.