Stereotypes In August Wilson's Fences

In the play Fences, the main character Troy and the side characters grow up in a poor region of Pittsburgh in the 1950s. The play follows Troy, his family, and the struggles they face living in a segregated and racist society. Literary devices such as metaphors, motifs, and setting represent why these characters act the way they do. The same situation would exist in their environment with an abusive father. Troy's behavior would be described as irritated and harsh. Troy blames a lot of his problems on the fact that he wasn't given a chance because of racial prejudice. Readers learn that Troy learned this behavior from his father, who contributes to a cycle of generational trauma. Troy's father grew up in the same area and was abusive towards

Cory wanted to play football in college because he had good grades and was getting recruited by coaches. Troy didn't like that because it wasn't what he had to do for a living, and his baseball career never took off. Troy did what his father did, and instead of putting his son's needs first, he put his own. He called the recruiter and told him that Cory isn't playing football anymore and that he ruined his son's future just to prove a point. That point being, Troy is stronger and in control. Throughout the play, Troy would threaten Cory with strikes like in baseball and say a big punishment would await Cory when three strikes were hit. This was a way to control and manipulate Cory. When Cory and Troy got into an argument, Troy became exactly like his father by hitting Cory and threatening him. Cory counteracts by saying every time he heard his father's footsteps and name, he would tremble, and Rose was scared of him too. Troy says Cory can't live there anymore, and now Cory is in his father's position from many years ago. Cory acknowledges he needs to leave home and find his own place in order to escape his abusive father. Cory becomes a corporal marine officer and changes the cycle of trauma. He doesn't blame others for his misfortunes and has made something of himself. Troy became the one he hated most: his father. These three generations grew up in the same environment and setting with similar family dynamics, but each made different choices in response to their