Reading: Read Act I, Scene 3

Notes on the Text:

Cory’s question: “How come you ain’t never liked me?” initiates a difficult conversation between Cory and his father. Cory will interpret the outcome of their confrontation as his father failing  to empathize with him. Troy, in contrast, tried to convey the idea that responsibility and duty to family should be more important than liking or not liking. Cory has hope for the future--that playing college sports might bring opportunities while Troy, ever practical, wants Cory to create a future through hard work and education. Cory, though, will continue to believe that Troy’s decisions stem from selfishness and jealousy even though the evidence in the text suggests they are based, at least in part, on Troy’s experiences.  As Susan Koprince points out, though: “.. [W]hy should [Troy] expect college football (another white power structure) to treat his son any better than major-league baseball treated him? Why should he believe, in 1957, that times have really changed for black men? Anxious for Cory to find economic security, and, more importantly, self- respect, Troy exclaims to Rose, "I don't want him to be like me! I want him to move as far away from my life as he can get" (39). Rose, who has overheard the exchange, tries to mediate between them -- asking Troy to give Cory the opportunity.