According to Dave Kerpen, “the difference between success and failure is a great team.” Corresponding to the quote, a family would be characterized as a team because each family member has a role and specific position in order for a family to be a well-rounded success. A family cannot have three leaders, or no leaders, it would not be functioning properly. In the plays “Fences” and “Death of a Salesman”, both families are dysfunctional and have poor family dynamics through the discord amongst themselves. The father figures, Troy and Willie, have similar characteristics, including faults that cause their hearts to be in a different location or set on a different goal than the rest of the family. Troy and Willie both have their life centered
Neither mother dreamed to be in a broken marriage that they find themselves in, but both stay because their needs are met. They sacrifice their own happiness in order to gain a shelter and other basic needs their husband provides. The mother in “Fences”, Rose, explains at the end of the play to her son that she dreamed for “a house that I could sing in. And that’s what your daddy gave me”. She then continuous to say, “But that’s what life offered me in the way of being a woman and I took it” (Act 2, Scene 5, Line 78). She obviously is not satisfied with her marriage, when she tells Troy that he is “a womanless man” (Act 2, Scene 4, Line 4) after she agrees to raise Raynell, a child from Troy and the mistress. Similarly to Rose, Lynda, the mother in “Death of a Salesman”, stands by her man. Obviously she is not in a healthy marriage because she and Troy do not stand as equals and she knows her husband wants to end his life and indeed has attempted to do so. Wade Bradford correctly characterizes Linda as “lonely” and “drained”, but his idea of her choice to be in the situation in not right. Linda did choose to marry Willie, but she did not marry a crazy man that will never reach success like he resulted in. She married a man that she believed was “well liked”. She believed that lie until the truth emerged at Willie’s funeral when Charlie was his only
Neither son has the support of their father for pursuing a dream job they each desire to obtain. Cory, the son is “Fences”, has a passion for the game of football and he finds himself excelling in it, but his father, Troy, will not allow his son to pursue an opportunity that arises to reach his goal. Cory wants to continue his football career while simultaneously receiving a higher education. He wants to be successful in the work force by having specific skills gained in college, and he understands football is the only “way [he’ll] be going to college” (Act 1, Scene 3, Line 74). An article written by Nicole Smith is extremely accurate describing the relationship Cory has with his father and the effect that has on Cory when stating, “Troy is constantly trying to shape Cory into the person he wants Cory to be, rather than permit Cory to explore possibilities and make his own decisions.” Smith continues describing Cory as beginning “an optimistic, hopeful young man full of hope and opportunity, he becomes disillusioned, just as his father was”. Exactly like Cory, Biff, the son in “Death of a Salesman”, enjoys working with his hands. His father Willie, will never support Biff’s dream to work on a farm. Willie holds conversations with Linda about Biff questioning “how can he find himself on a farm... But it’s more than ten years now and he has
The fathers in the two plays are comparable because they both have conflicts with their sons as a result of living in the past, and they die in the end. Willy, in Death of a Salesman, is never respected for his occupational status, so he places very high expectations on his son, Biff. Willy lives in the memory of past events to such a large extent that he cannot distinguish fantasy from reality, and he passes this trait onto Biff. Biff says, "How the hell did I ever get the idea I was a salesman there? I even believed myself that I'd been a salesman for him!...We've been talking in a dream for fifteen years. I was a shipping clerk" (1760). Willy's high demands of Biff cause Biff to experience the same difficulties of living in the present and the desire to live in a fantasy world. This conflict is only resolved in Biff's mind when he releases himself from his father's dominance and establishes his own identity. At his father's funeral, Biff has compassion for his father and remembers that "there were a lot of nice days;" his father did have good intentions but "had the wrong dreams" (1778). He realizes the futility of trying to live up to his father's unrealistic expectations, and Cory has the same realization in Fences. ...
The disappointment Troy has in this situation impacts his judgment regarding Cory who is the son of Troy being recruited to play college football, creating tension between the two.
This makes Troy the antagonist in the story because he is not only hitting up against everyone in the play, but he is also hitting up against himself and ultimately making his life more complicated. The discrimination that Troy faced while playing baseball and the torment he endures as a child shaped him into one of the most dynamic characters in literary history. The central conflict is the relationship between Troy and Cory. The two of them have conflicting views about Cory’s future and, as the play goes on, this rocky relationship crumbles because Troy will not let Cory play collegiate football. The relationship becomes even more destructive when Troy admits to his relationship with Alberta and he admits Gabriel to a mental institution by accident.
The diction used in this scene shows the strength in Rose’s voice. “I’ll take care of your baby for you… cause… like you say… she’s innocent… and you can’t visit the sins of the father upon the child. A motherless child has got a hard time. From right now... this child got a mother. But you a womanless man.” This scene is very emotional and climatic. The bluntness of Rose’s words and the lack of sympathy she has for Troy shows the reader how little love Rose has left for him. The last sentence of the quote is really what leaves the reader’s jaw dropped. Wilson allows Rose to say so much with so little. In addition, her strength in this scene is very admirable. For me, I see my own mother in Rose. Most people admire their mother and see them as a mentally strong person. That being said, I am able to empathize with Rose because I am able to relate her to my own mother. I think that if my mother was in the same situation as Rose, she would have taken the baby in as her own as
This is the reason why Troy fights against his family and himself, because he feels like he is the only one who can protect them. To Cory and Rose, Troy is destroying the family because of his stubborn thoughts but to Troy he is saving the family from falling apart and this distrust causes the family to eventually fall apart. Troy really does try his hardest to be a good father and is bothered by the fact that Rose and Cory do not see it as him trying to protect them but more of him destroying the family. This hurts Troy because his family is his everything they are what he “fights” for he works day end and day out to put food on the table and try to give them a life he thinks the deserve. August Wilson in “fences” Troy says, “ I love this woman, so much it hurts. I love her so much… I done run out of ways to love her.”(1.1) Wilson uses to show how much Troy actually cares for his wife, to Troy Rose is his everything, she is the light in his darkness, she try’s to guide him back to a sane man. Another Way Wilson shows how much Troy loves his family is when Troy is talking to his family and says that “ You all line up at the door, with your hands out. I give you the lint from my pockets. I give you my sweat and my blood…”(1.3) Troy is saying that he will give them everything until he has absolutely nothing but the lint from his pockets. He will go out of his way to make
As one reads the play, he or she starts to criticize Troy Maxson?s behavior as of a patronizing person. However, if a reader analyzes the situation he was in he or she wouldn?t be so stern in his judgements. In my view he is not a bad father, simply his life experiences have shaped his personality. Through his behavior and acts he wants to pass on to his family the right principles for living, which will guide them through their lives. Troy?s oldest son, Lyons who is thirty-four, fancies himself as a musician. Troy realizes that his son is becoming more and more caught up in the idea of being a musician and is in constant need of money. He is reluctant to loan his son money when he needs it because he wants him to be able to support himself by having a decent job. It is shown when he says, ?I don?t know why he don?t go and get him a decent job and take care of that woman he got.? Troy tries to be a good father but he uses an old-fashioned approach when he tries to explain to his sons how to make it in the real world. He doesn?t ...
...oes tell the truth. He talks truthfully about his father and how he is a lot like him. He also admits that the only difference with him and his father is that he does not beat his children. Troy provided for his family. Additionally, even though he was very tough on Cory, he admitted that he was responsible for taking care of him and the rest of the family. In Act One, scene three, Troy explains to Cory why he treats him the way he does. Cory asks, “How come you ain’t never liked me?” (1346). Troy can’t admit to like his own son, so points out that he doesn’t have to like him in order to provide for him. “[…] ‘Cause it’s my duty to take care of you. I owe a responsibility to you! […] I ain’t got to like you” (1347). Deep down, somewhere in the dark abyss that is Troy’s heart, he sincerely cares about his family. He just has a very different way of articulating it.
During most father-son relationships, there are certain times where the father wants to become more of a "player" in his son’s life than his son believes is necessary. The reasons for this are numerous and can be demonstrated in different ways. Miller is able to give an example of this behavior through the actions of Willy Loman. When Biff comes home to recollect himself, Willy perceives it as failure. Since Willy desperately wants his oldest son, Biff, to succeed in every way possible, he tries to take matters into his own hands. "I’ll get him a job selling. He could be big in no time" (16). The reason that Biff came home is to find out what he wants in life. Because Willy gets in the way, matters become more complicated. Partly due to Willy’s persistence in Biff’s life, they have conflicting ideas as to what the American dream is. Willy believes that working on the road by selling is the greatest job a man could have (81). Biff, however, feels the most inspiring job a man could have is working outdoors (22).
Troy?s relationship with his father was one, which produced much tension, and had a strong influence on Troy?s relationships with his loved ones as an adult. He had very little respect for his father because his father did not, in Troy?s mind, make his family a priority. At an early age, Troy?s father beat him ?like there was no tomorrow? because he caught Troy getting ?cozy? with a girl (549; I,4). Troy said that ?right there is where [he became] a man? (549; I,4). It was at that moment that Troy made the decision to free himself from his father?s power. Despite the fact that he did eventually escape his father?s wrath, the struggle with his father?s aggressive behavior and lack of love resulted in a coldness that resided in Troy?s heart toward life and love. His father did not care about his children; children were there to work for the food that he ate first. Troy describes his feelings toward his father by saying, ?Sometimes I wish I hadn?t known my daddy. He ain?t cared nothing about no kids. A kid to him wasn?t nothing. All he wanted was for you to learn how to walk so he could start you to working? (548; I,4). Although Troy had very little respect for his father and vowed to be nothing like him, many of his father?s harsh personality traits show up in his own personality. Despite Troy?s continuous attempts to push himself away from anything he had ever known about his father, the inheritance of such irrational behavior was inevitable because it was all he had ever known. The inheritance of this angry behavior was, in turn, the cause of his damaging relationships with his own family. Just as Troy endured his father?s cruel ways, Troy?s family is left with no choice but to try to learn to live with his similar ways.
family living in the twentieth century. This conflict involves Troy trying to live his life through his sons, Lyans and Cory, while trying to keep them from making the same
In comparing Willy and Troy, as fathers, one could feel more sympathy in Willy for his everlasting struggle to maintain a home. Furthermore Willy is alone when it comes to making necessary payments, because Willy’s two sons, Happy and Biff, cannot hold a job. “How can he find himself? Is that a life? A farmhand? In the beginning, when he was young, I thought, well, a young man, it’s good for him to tramp around, take a lot of different jobs. But its’ more than ten years now and he has yet to make thirty-five dollars a week!” (Gioia, 2010) It is evident that Biff cannot hold a job, and has not produced money well; therefore, Willy’s struggle to make payments for the house has been difficult. On the other hand, Troy, the protagonist in the narrative, “Fences” also has the responsibility of maintaining a home. However, unlike Willy, Troy received help in paying his home when he received a check from the government. Troy received the check when his brother Gabriel, was injured at war. “…and they gave him a lousy three-th...
Troy’s Father’s importance and impact on him become evident as soon as Troy’s childhood is known. Despite the hate Troy felt towards his father, he ended up very similar to him. Troy’s father didn’t love or even care about his children, but he did have a responsibility he owed them. . “Maybe he ain’t treat us the way he should have….but without that responsibility he could have walked off and left us.” (I iv, 51). This was the one thing Troy agreed with his father about. However, this trait of responsibility would be used in somewhat of a double standard, with over emphasizing it on Cory but not seeming to consider it on Rose. Troy changes situations to fit his
Perhaps the most important and fulfilling relationship a man can be involved in is one with his own flesh and blood. At the beginning of the play, we learn that Troy has two sons, Lyons and Cory. Lyons is Troy's son by a previous marriage and Cory is Troy's son by his current marriage. Neither Lyons nor Cory share a close relationship with their father and Troy is mostly to blame for that.
Linda is the one who never nor will ever leave home because she finished paying it off and she just couldn’t see her husband go like how he did. Linda can 't accept his death until she 's had a chance to say good bye to him once and for all. "I never had a chance to say good-by" (Miller 1173). They would not listen to the false illusions from others because Willy was a man of success, and when he was gone someone needed to carry the torch from that point on, they just didn’t know who it would
Even though Troy knows that he is the blame of most of the problems that are taking place around him, he fails to admit so. Instead of thinking more positive about things and owning up to his faults, he rather instead blames his family. The relationship between Troy and his oldest son Lyons can be one of the many examples of how his stubborn ways influence his relationship with his family. Troy’s relationship with Lyons can quickly be viewed as a relationship based on guilt. It is obvious that Troy does feel sympathy for him not being there for Lyons when he was younger. Troy’s actions, although do not appear the same way. There are many ways Troy could have stepped up and became more of a father figure in Lyons life, but he decided not to. He instead show his love by telling Lyons what he was doing wrong with his life and what all he should have accomplished so far, instead of actually teaching him how to do so. Troy lacks understanding that he cannot expect Lyons to have certain mindset set nor ambitious, if he was never taught to do