Examples Of Masculinity In Fences

Men and Masculinity

“Masculinity is not something given to you, but something you gain. And you gain it by winning small battles with honor” Norman Mailer, the great playwright, says that masculinity is something that is earned, not by one triumph but from a progressive collection of experiences. Troy, the main character in the story Fences, went through many experiences that have made his character stand out, and have helped define his idea of manhood. His experiences of duty, failed dreams, and disrespect have all contributed to portray Troy´s brokenness. These experiences or “small battles” have allowed a reason for his poor decisions and aggression towards his family. As we move forward, we question if Troy’s ideals of masculinity hold

As the man of the house, Troy paid the bills, he paid for the clothes on his child’s back, because he was there to ensure his family survived. In reality he supported his family not in love, but because he had to. His son, Cory, once questioned his father's emotions by asking,¨How come you ain't never liked me?” then Troy responded with, “Liked you? Who the hell say I got to like you?"(1.3). In this conversation between father and son, Cory unearths Troy's deep seeded emotions towards his family. Though he does love his family, and his tenderness and concern are on display in other scenes, Troy has come to a point in his life where he finally becomes broken by the responsibility of caring for them. Responsibility, in Troy's world, is the most noble calling of a man. This responsibility, however, has caused Troy to become a bitter man. He cannot "like" his son because of his desire that Cory not become like him. It seems that since Troy goes through many difficulties for his family he has high expectations of his family members. With the responsibility of a girlfriend, Troy wanted Cory to make his new job his sole priority. Dreams to Troy were merely a waste of