The Role Of Fathers In August Wilson's Fences

In August Wilson’s Fences, the both Troy and Cory struggle with the sins of their fathers. Both characters try to live their life in a way that isn’t like their own father’s, but parallels do end up occurring. Cory acts as a foil within the play, highlighting Troy’s flaws being passed on. This develops the idea that every son, no matter how hard they fight against it, carries their father’s sins. Throughout Fences, Cory becomes more and more like his own father. Ironically, this is all in an attempt to turn away from his father’s conduct. Parallels occur throughout the story that compare Troy and Cory’s rise to manhood. In the beginning of the play, Troy informs Cory that although he is raising him, he doesn’t need to like him. Troy feels

Troy’s father was selfish, an attribute that is unfortunately passed on to Troy. Like his father, Troy aims to command

The play begins with an epigraph by Wilson, explaining that the sins of the father can be forgiven. Fences manages to prove that although the sins may be forgiven, they are still passed on. Sons strive to be the best father they can, and have a choice to base their lifestyle after their own father. Ideally, they take the good and leave the bad. However, Wilson believes that even the bad are taken up. Wilson portrays this belief by revealing the poor qualities in each father within their respective son. Troy explains that his father was very selfish when raising his children. This revelation provides context and reasoning behind Troy’s selfish values about his money and desires, such as not wanting Cory to play football. Cory’s fight with his father towards the end of the novel acts as a direct result of Troy telling about his fight with his father. Even Troy’s stubbornness is present in his daughter Raynell. She complains at one point that her shoes are hurting her feet. She claims that it is not her fault her, but her feet getting bigger. Troy made many arguments like these blaming his faults on things that were out of his control. Wilson is stating that, unfortunately, the sins of our father become the sins of our children. Although many may think they can escape this fate, Fences acts as a warning of the