Fay Weldon came up with an interesting concept in which "the writers who get the best and most lasting response are the writers who offer a happy ending through moral development." This is true in the case of the play Fences by August Wilson. Through the play Cory is constantly irritated with his father Troy. Troy hinders Cory from pursuing a football career which he truly loves. When Troy dies, Cory comes home and doesn't want to go to the funeral. Through moral reconciliation Cory realizes that he needs to forgive his father and go to the funeral; like any other person, one needs forgiveness and understanding to grow as a person. This is why bringing Fences to an end with Cory going to the funeral makes this play a truly universal one. .
In the beginning of the play, all Cory wants to do is play football and please Troy, but he has not gone through the process of moral reconciliation yet. While he's involved with the team he quits his job at the A&P. Troy very much wants him to succeed in life so he tells him " You go on down there to the A&P and get your job back. If you can't do both then you quit the football team. You've got to take the crookeds with the straights."(p.37) Cory holds this against him because he thinks Troy is doing this just to be a bigot, but in reality Troy is looking out for the well-being of his son. Many parents would do the same thing in Troy's position. Cory can either play around and not get anywhere in life, or keep a stable job. Troy also will not say that he likes Cory. When Troy is talking to Rose later on he tells her, " Rose I ain't got no time for that. He's alive. He's healthy Ain't nobody gonna hold his hand when he get out there in that world."(p.39) Troy is afraid of Cory getting soft if he tells him he likes him. Troy doesn't want Cory to "hold his hand", but be self-sufficient and make it in the world. It may not be the brightest idea for Troy to do this because Cory is despising Troy even more so now.
