Education

I think the type of education that is emphasized in Fences is slightly different from the type of education that is valued by Douglass. Troy says on page 35 "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 or build houses or something, get you a trade. That way you have something can't nobody take away from you". Troy seems to believe that education is learning a trade to make money, but this kind of education is still limiting in some ways. Douglass, on the other hand, thinks education leads to intellectual freedom, which can be seen as more valuable than physical freedom. Troy's education seems to limit him rather than give him freedom.
I think Troy desires to be more than what he is right now, and desires recognition for his actions (i.e. raising Cory, proficiency in sports). Cory just wants Troy to be proud of him; Rose says "everything that boy do...he do for you. He wants you to say "Good job, son." That's all" (39). I think Rose just wants what she had before Troy told her about Alberta, which was a family that was whole. She might have wanted her family to be closer, but she seemed content with the situation. After Troy tells her about Alberta, she says "you know I ain't never wanted no half nothing in my family" (68).