 Troy's behavior toward Rose can be pretty boorish.

Although Rose joins in the Friday night

conversations, it's obvious that Troy's many sexual innuendos irritate her. She and Troy often disagree
about other things as well. The topics of their disagreements include where to shop, whether to play
the lottery, whether to lend Lyons money, whether to put Gabriel in a home, meeting the college
recruiter for Cory, and talking about death, and the reason Troy never played in the major leagues.
The only time Troy and Rose seem happy is when they are reminiscing about when they met. They
enjoy telling the story, even if they have different versions. Even without Bono's suggestion that Troy
is having an extramarital affair, the marriage seems less than ideal.

Troy apparently was a very talented baseball player. He had the ability to make it to the major leagues, and in
Troy's telling, only the color of his skin prevented him. In fact Rose claims that by the time Troy got out of
prison he was simply too old for the major leagues. Whatever the case, Troy feels let down by the game he
loved. For Troy baseball has become a symbol of the barriers that hold people back. He refuses to let Cory
play football because of his feelings toward sports: "Not after what they did to me in the sports." Cory,
however, sees things differently. He believes Troy, in his bitterness, fears Cory will surpass him, as Cory
points out: "You just scared I'm gonna be better than you, that's all." Whatever kept Troy out of the major
leagues, the legacy of that disappointment causes a key conflict in the play.

Troy likes to tell stories that captivate his audience. By characterizing his struggle with pneumonia as a bout
with an opponent named Mr. Death, he turns a story about a man lying sick in bed into an action-packed brawl,
in which he is the victor. His storytelling style shows that Troy has a high opinion of himself. But Troy talks to
Mr. Death even when he has no audience, indicating that the character is more than a favorite storytelling
device. For Troy, Death seems to be his only truly worthy opponent. He speaks to Mr. Death at the end of a
number of scenes. He taunts Death as if he wants a challenge. This proud, competitive man sees Death as the
ultimate challenge, and he wants to test himself against the best. This is an opportunity that he never got in
baseball.

Troy is a practical person. When professional baseball did not work out, he gave up on dreams to focus on his
life with Rose. Lyons, his first son from a previous relationship, is a struggling 34-year-old musician. Although
he gets gigs and has some talent, he doesn't make a living. He has not, however, given up on his dream to make
a career of his music. As a result he relies on his wife and Troy for support. Troy sees Lyon's pursuit of his
dreams as a waste of time. Lyons defends his choice, saying he needs music to feel alive and noting that he and
Troy are different people. Later, however, when Troy explains why he risked his marriage for an affair, he
sounds a lot like his older son: the affair, he says, makes him feel daring and alive.

Gabriel, who was injured in World War II, believes that he is the Archangel Gabriel. The Archangel Gabriel of
the Bible is one of God's chief messengers and is sometimes regarded as the angel of death. He will blow his
trumpet to announce the second coming. In the play Gabriel believes that he already died and went to heaven,
where he spent time with St. Peter—who according to the Bible holds the keys to heaven's gate. In Act 1,
Scene 2 Gabriel says that one day, when St. Peter had his book open (the book of life, from Revelations),
"marking it up for the judgment," he saw Troy's name. He hastens to add that Rose's name is there, too—he's
sure of it, because everyone's name is in there. But evoking the image of Troy's name in St. Peter's book
suggests that death, and judgment, will come sooner for Troy than for other characters in the play.
1. What was Troy hospitalized for (backstory) – an illness that nearly killed
him? Who does he say that he struggled with for three days?
2. Why does Troy resent Lyons? What does Lyons do every week (what day is
that)?
3. Does Lyons ever repay the “borrowed” money?
4. Troy’s brother was seriously wounded in what war?
5. \What is Troy’s profession?
6. How did Troy and his best friend Bono meet?
7. What was the name of Troy’s dog (backstory)?
8. When Troy and Cory have their physical fight, what weapon do they
struggle over?
9. Who is the author of this play?
10.What is the time period of the play – what decade?
11.Why does Troy think Cory has no chance at football scholarships?
12.What sport did Troy play in his younger days?
13.Why was Troy never a big success in that sport?
14.What are some of the sayings that Troy repeats throughout the play?
15.Who is Troy’s mistress? What happens to her?
16.Who is Raynell in the story?
17.Where does Rose spend much of her time after she learns of Troy’s affair?
18.Who tries to persuade Troy to be honest with Rose about his affair?
19.What branch of the armed forces does Cory choose?
20.What is the final scene all about?
21.In the play, Gabriel tries to blow his horn, but it doesn’t work – so what
does he do?