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By analyzing the sources of this conflict, one can better appreciate and understand the way the conflict contributes to the The first conflict in this play develops between Troy and his 34-year old son Lyons. This conflict is introduced when Lyons appears at the house on Troy’s payday to borrow 10 dollars, an occurrence that is common at the Maxson household. Although Troy knows that he will let Lyons have the money, he harasses Lyons over the issue saying, “...The only time I see this nigger is when he wants something. That’s the only time I see him.” The source of this conflict lies in Troy’s experiences and attitude toward the black cause. Troy is the victim of a generation with limited opportunities in the industrial world and toils everyday to support his family and stay on top of his struggle for survival. Troy has come to believe, from his experiences, that blacks cannot get something for nothing and that life does not owe blacks anything. Due to this, Toy “fences in” everything that he loves to protect his possessions from the monster of society. Thus there is a symbolization of Troy building a physical fence in the yard but building an emotional fence of protection around his family and friends. He believes that blacks owe it to themselves to make an honest, hard-earned living and that is the only way to survive. Troy states sarcastically that Lyans is blowing his money while living on the streets trying to live the “fast life” of a musician. In his pride, Troy states: “...You ain’t gonna find me going and asking nobody for nothing. I done spent too many years without.” Lyans, on the other hand, is part of a new ambitious generation of blacks who believe that they can make something of themselves in an opportunistic world. It is evident that Lyans believes that there is a hope for success for blacks in the world’s society. Lyans deals with the world and its struggles through his music and feels that his music gives him a sense of belonging and a reason for existence. Lyans, in contrast with his father, believes that they are “...two different people...” and that they just have different methods of handling the world. Troy believes that Lyans is blind to the harshness of society on blacks and reacts in scrutiny to his son’s wanting 10 dollars. This conflict between Troy and Lyans emphasizes Troy’s flaw in his relationships. Troy is so worried that he is going to be taken advantage of and is so bitter because of his past experiences with whites, that he creates a “fence” or barrier between his relationship with his family. It is evident that Lyans, who quickly pays back the 10 dollars, wants a closer relationship with his father but does not succeed due to his father’s bitter words The second conflict in Fences involves Troy and his youngest son, Cory. Cory is a 17 or 18 yr. old boy who enters coming home from football practice. Troy, when seeing Cory, immediately attacks him verbally: “...The garbage sitting in there overflowing...you ain’t done none of your chores...” Following this, Troy and Cory’s conflict arises due to a difference in priorities between them. First of all, Troy prioritizes retarring the roof over getting a new TV while Cory believes in getting a new TV now and fixing the roof when it starts leaking. Troy is trying to teach Cory responsibility but is going about it in the wrong way by damaging their relationship with harsh words. Next, instead of maintaining a job at the A&P like his father wishes, Cory wants to play football with hopes of earning a football scholarship to a college . Troy orders Cory to hold a job at the A&P as a first priority and play football as a second priority. The conflict between Troy and Cory goes even deeper concerning Cory being recruited by a scout from North Carolina. Troy refuses to sign the permission statement in an effort to thwart Cory’s dream. Troy’s attitude is evident in his words, “...I don’t care where he [scout] coming from. The white man ain’t gonna let you get nowhere with that football noway. You go on and get your book learning so you can work yourself up in that A&P or learn how to fix cars...That way you have something can’t nobody take away from you...” In pleading, Cory mutters, “I get good grades, Pop. That’s why the recruiter wants to talk with you. You got to keep up your grades to get recruited. This way I’ll be going to college. I’ll get a chance...” Troy deals with Cory in this way concerning sports due to his past experiences as a baseball player in the Negro leagues. Troy believes that he was denied from playing in the major leagues due to his color. Although it might appear that Troy just does not want Cory to surpass him in accomplishment and greatness regarding sports, Troy is really trying to protect his son from getting hurt in the same way that he had been. However, Troy does not reason with Cory and explain his actions but instead, orders Cory around with verbal brutality. This sets up a huge “fence” between Cory and his father because Cory sees Troy’s not signing the permission papers as a boulder crushing his dreams of college football to a pulp. Cory is driven to ask Troy, “How come you ain’t never liked me?”. Everything that Cory does is for Troy, in hope of a simple “ Good job, son.” Troy says that he doesn’t have time for this kind of talk and believes that Cory has to make his own way in life as his father did. Troy states in support for this theory, “...Ain’t nobody gonna hold his hand when he get out there in that world.” Troy, although having good motives, is a bit blinded to the way the times have changed since his younger years. As Rose states, “...People change. The world’s changing around you and you can’t even see it. This blindness in Troy triggers his stubborn actions of canceling Cory’s football playing and telling the scout from North Carolina not to come which eventually drive Cory away from Troy to the tune of not The third conflict in the play involves Troy and his young little daughter, Raynell. Raynell is the daughter of Troy and Alberta, Troy’s secret lover. She is the product of Troy’s feeling that he must release himself in freedom in the arms of another woman. Troy believes that he can “...be a different man” around her while forgetting about his stresses and anxieties. Raynell is born because of Troy’s cheating on Rosa so there is conflict involving Rosa taking care of the baby as her own and what Troy and Rosa will do regarding their relationship. The couple face each other here and admit truths that they have seldom ever talked about and Rosa stands up to Troy realizing that he is imperfect and full of flaws. This conflict jeopardizes Troy and Rosa’s relationship and digs a whole in which they never truly overcome. This conflict emphasizes Troy’s weakness and Rosa’s strength and dignity. In the drama Fences ,by August Wilson, Their is much conflict entangling a black 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 mistakes in life that he did. Also, there is conflict including Troy and his young daughter Raynell. By looking at the root of this conflict, one can better grasp the contribution it Bibliography: Word Count: 1364
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