Happiness

Happiness has different meaning to everyone in Fences. To Cory, happiness means doing the things he loves.  To him love means more than money, which strongly differs with Troy. "I ain't quitting the team. I don't care what Poppa say (Wilson 59)." Cory does not care about what his father things as love as he gets to play football.  He wants to go off the college and get a real chance at the world.  Troy on the other hand believes happiness involves getting what he wants. He wants money and love. When he is with Rose, he has to deal with more responsibilities and duties. He wants more.  This to achieve his own happiness, without caring what is right and what is wrong. "I can sit up in her house and laugh....Rose I can't give that up (Wilson 69)."This shows that Troy is willing to put his loved ones happiness at risk for his own. To Rose, being happy means that he is with the man she loves and being a good wife.  She is also seeking for more love, yet she does not go to extremes as does Troy. "Don't think I ever wanted other things? Don't you think I had dreams and hopes? What about my life? What about me. Don't you think it ever crossed my mind to want to know other men...You not the only one who's got wants and needs (Wilson 71)." This shows that Roses own needs are compromised through their marriage, yet she stays loyal.  Her being content means that she is loyal and with her husband.  This also shows that Troy didn't think about her happiness when making the choice to go and lay with Alberta.  In today's society, happiness is measured by the amount of money and success you have. Yet, money does not always allow for happiness. There are multiple people in today's society who remain happy without money. Everyone has a right to happiness. Yet, some peoples own definition of happiness contradicts with others. In the case of Troy, he resulted in cheating on his wife to achieve happiness. Although this was a wrong, he thought this was the only way he could be happy.  In today's society, there are multiple people who cheat on their significant other.  These people want "more" in life and are not satisfied with what they have. More in today's society than in the book, cheating is strongly frowned upon. Chances are if you have to cheat on your significant other, you are not happy and/or your happiness will come to a sudden stop after you get caught. Other all, happiness is hard to define and differs from person to person. I think true happiness occurs when you can confidently and truthfully put a smile on your face and be satisfied with what you have.