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Fences Troy's Relationship

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The protagonist of Fences, Troy is a man whose failed dreams make him prone to believing in self-created illusions. Troy begins the play by entertaining Bono and Rose with an epic story about his struggle with a personified Death. Another example of Troy's inability to live in the real world is his denial to his best friend, Bono about the reality of his extramarital affair with Alberta. Fences is largely Troy's story. What all of the play characters have in common is a complicated relationship with Troy. Troy's character creates each and every conflict with everyone else in Fences. Troy instigates conflict as a result his inability to accept other's choices in life when they differ from his own philosophy. It has to be noted that Troy Maxson isn't a bad man. …show more content…
Troy is a hardworking man. He has a strong work ethic and is determined to instill this same work ethic in his children. He constantly reminds his children of his role as the family’s breadwinner every time they mention a career that he believes is not legitimate such as a football player or musician. For example, in Act 1, Scene 3 Cory asks Troy why he doesn’t like him. Troy defends himself saying, “Don’t you eat everyday...Got a roof over your head...Clothes on your back...Why you think that is”. Rose often contradicts his stories about himself and versions of what happened in the past. Troy aggressively disagrees with Lyons' decision to be a musician and Cory's decision to play football in college, as well as Rose's habit of playing the

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