Fences Vs. Troy's Parenting

Rose’s Parenting is better than Troy’s Parenting
In the play Fences, by August Wilson, Troy and Rose Maxson have extremely different parenting styles. They are the parents of three children, Lyons, Cory and Raynell. Lyons is the son of Troy’s previous wife, Raynell is Troy’s illegitimate daughter, and Cory is the son of Troy and Rose. There are many different styles of parenting. Some parents are very rigid and overbearing, while other parents let the children have more freedom to explore and pursue their ambitions. Troy is very overbearing and wants to force his expectations upon his children. In contrast, Rose is very supportive of her children and encourages them to pursue their own passions and determine their own goals. Although both Troy

Troy does not want Cory to play football, but instead wants Cory to work and the A&P. Troy wants Cory to work because “The white man ain’t gonna let him get nowhere with that football” (9) because Troy does not think that racism in sports, specifically football, has changed. Troy feels that Cory needs to learn that “Ain’t nobody gonna hold his hand when he get out there in that world” (39) Which is why Troy is so insistent that Cory get a job that pays real money. Similarly, imposes the same overbearing parenting style with his son Lyons. Troy does not understand why Lyons loves his music and does not want to get a real job instead. Troy does not “know why he don’t go and get him a decent job and take care of that woman he got” (19). Troy does not support Lyons’ decision to pursue music instead of getting a serious job. Troy does want his children to succeed, however, he expects them to follow his plan, instead of making their own

Rose sees that if Cory plays football he can go to college, and tries to convince Troy that Cory can succeed in football because “They got lots of colored boys playing ball now. Baseball and football” (9). She knows that Troy is rigid and wants his children to pursue practical jobs rather than their dreams and ambitions. Rose asks, “Why don’t you let the boy go ahead and play football, Troy? Ain’t no harm in that” (39) “Everything that boy do . . . he do for you. He wants you to say ‘Good job, son.’ That’s all” (39). Rose tries to convince Troy that there is no harm in Cory continuing to play football and that all Cory wants is Troy to be proud of him and support him the same way Rose does. Similarly, Rose also supports Lyons’ decisions by lending him money. Although Troy will lend money to Lyons, he does not like to be the person who does it, and Rose has to give the money to Lyons for Troy “Let the boy have ten dollars, Troy” (19). She tries to convince Troy to lend Lyons the money to show that he supports his son’s interest in music, but he will not do it. Rose also likes seeing Lyons, and wants him to come over casually more often, “How come you ain’t brought Bonnie like I told you. You should have brought Bonnie with you she ain’t been over in a month of Sundays” (45). She wants to see Lyons more often and cares about him and his