Student Question
How can Corey feel his father wanted good for him when everything he did wasn't to his father's liking?
“Your daddy wanted you to be everything he wasn't...and at the same time he tried to make you into everything he was. I don't know if he was right or wrong...but I do know he meant to do more good than he meant to do harm."
Quick answer:
Corey can feel his father wanted good for him despite their strained relationship because Troy's intentions, as explained by Rose, were complex. Troy, though flawed and often abusive, desired Corey to become a better version of himself while simultaneously projecting his own insecurities. Rose suggests that Troy's actions stemmed from a desire to protect Corey from life's disappointments, indicating that his intentions were ultimately more benevolent than harmful.
In a nutshell, the quote is simply an explanation that Troy was far from a
perfect person, even though a son is supposed to expect at least an illusion of
goodness from his father. This quote is spoken by Rose after Troy's death, when
Cory is dealing with the incredibly conflicting emotions that come with finally
being free from his father's abuse—but not quite as free of his memory as he'd
hoped.
Troy was insecure and pedantic, and he took out his frustration on his son in
life. He was immature and could not stand the thought that Cory might become
stronger or more successful than him. Rose is telling Cory that though this
side of him did exist, there was also a side that wanted Cory to be spared the
disappointment and sadness that he faced in life. If Troy could have chosen, he
would have wanted the latter side to win out.
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