Troy and Cory's relationship is one of the central themes in August Wilson's play "Fences." At the beginning of the play, Troy and Cory seem to have a close relationship, but as the play progresses, their relationship becomes strained and eventually breaks down completely.
In the early stages of the play, Troy and Cory have a strong father-son bond. Troy is a former baseball player who was denied the opportunity to play in the major leagues due to his race. He now works as a garbage collector and sees his son's passion for football as a waste of time. However, despite their disagreements, Troy and Cory share moments of affection and respect for each other.
As the play progresses, Troy's bitterness and disappointment with life begin to take a toll on his relationship with Cory. Troy becomes increasingly resentful of Cory's success and prospects for a college football scholarship. He thinks that Cory is wasting his time on football, just as he believes his own talents were wasted in baseball.
Troy's bitterness leads to him sabotaging Cory's chances of getting a scholarship by telling the football coach that Cory is no longer interested in playing. This act of betrayal leads to a physical altercation between Troy and Cory, which marks the end of their relationship.
In conclusion, Troy and Cory's relationship is a complicated and nuanced one. At the beginning of the play, they share a strong bond, but as the play progresses, their relationship becomes strained and ultimately breaks down. Troy's bitterness and resentment towards his own life cause him to lash out at Cory, which leads to the breakdown of their relationship.