August Wilson Character Analysis

A Fenced in Prison In a child’s life, the impact their parents have on them stands with them as they grow into their own person. In August Wilson’s play “Fences”, young Cory is learning who he wants to be in life and how to be that person. When one situation leads him to feel defeated about his dream of playing football, Cory decides who he has always been. Although Cory is: ambitious, pessimistic, has self-restraint, is determined, and is considerate. It takes a while for him to realize that he is indeed his own person and will pursue anything that he wishes to no matter what obstacles appear. Cory is ambitious in Act 1 Scene 3 when he is first introduced in the play. Seeming hopeful for a future career in football, Cory wants to pick up where his father left off. His father played baseball but never got the chance to play on a major league team. Cory does everything in the world to impress his father but being as his father is, it is often very hard to accomplish this task. Raised in a strict household, Cory does all he can to abide by the rules of his father’s demand. When confronted as to why he ran off without doing his chores he responded, “Yeah, I had to go to football practice” (1.3.20). Usually doing them before hand, Cory was in a rush to practice

Being raised in a strict household, Cory is used to holding his tongue. However, when his father has decided to cause harm to his mother. Cory shows how much strength he has had in him throughout the whole play that he never let shine. In the stage directions on page 1461 it reads, “… Cory throws a glancing blow that catches him on the chest and knocks him down. Troy is stunned, as is Cory” (2.1). Cory has had enough of his father’s ways and finally stands up for the people he loves. In this moment he is no longer afraid of his father. The negativity has set him back for far too long and he wants no part of it