Troy

Kyle Duncan 12-7-11 Book Report (Deep Zone) 3rd Block Plot Summary The characters are Thane, Ty, Troy, Tate, and Agent Sutherland. Ty is this story’s main character. Thane is his older brother and an NFL star. Ty meets Troy and Tate in Miami at the football tournament. Agent Sutherland is an FBI agent protecting Ty from the mob while Thane is away. The setting is in Miami and in the swamp. At the beginning of the story, they are at a football game, when Thane is going up for a touchdown pass to win the game.

He gets taken down by three people and tears his ACL. They are taken to the hospital and Ty is sad. They let Ty stay the night, but he has to go to school the next morning. He leaves the hospital and gets in his limo driver’s car. (Considering his brother is a professional football player). When he gets in, he notices a big man in a dark suit. He automatically thinks it is someone from the mob trying to hurt him to get to his uncle. He tries to jump out of the car fast but the man grabs him by the collar and yanked him back in cutting Ty’s hand open.

The man then explains that he is Agent Sutherland and apologizes for scaring him and cutting his hand. Agent Sutherland says that he’ll be watching Ty while his brother is in the hospital. In a few weeks Thane got out. Ty had 7-on-7 tryouts and he made the team. If the team won all of their playoff games they would get to play in Miami on Super Bowl Sunday. They won most of their games and got to go to Miami to play their playoff games. While down there, he met a girl that he liked named Tate. Unfortunately, Troy, her best friend, didn’t like Ty.

Troy was on a team that Ty would have to play if his team made it to the championship. One night, Tate and Troy were going to a party, so Ty begged Thane to let him go. Thane let him. They got dressed up and left. While there, Troy thought he saw his dad, who left him at a young age, and ran after him. Being curios, Ty ran after them. He ran until he saw them standing near the coast. Ty recognized one of the men with Troy and his dad as one of the mob members that he was being protected from. He started running back to the party, but someone grabbed him.

They threw him and Troy in to the boat and took them out into the swamp. While there, Tate tried to rescue them by bringing a boat that the two of them would drop down out of the window to. It was only a little canoe though. The two got into the canoe and started paddling back. They got halfway back and they heard a motor. It was the people from the mob, and they brought the three of them back to the swamp house. They sat there for a long time, and Ty knew he was going to die. Then, the door squeaked open, and a man with a knife entered.

Ty started freaking out, and when the blade touched his skin he started twitching uncontrollably. Then he heard Troy’s dad say, “Shh. I’m getting you out of here. ” The four of them got in the boat while the two mobsters were asleep and went back to the beach. The next day Ty’s team played Troy’s team in the championship. Ty’s team won, but Troy was not upset. The two were good friends now and talked a lot now. Troy talks about his uncle, who would have been a great NFL player if he hadn’t died his junior year of college in a car crash.

Ty tells how his mother had a brother that fits that description. Troy told him his name and they figured out they were cousins. At the end of the story, everyone says their goodbyes and they all go home. Character Analysis I am comparing Ty and Troy. Both of them play football, and both played on Super Bowl Sunday. Unfortunately, both boys have some connection with the mob. In football, Ty plays wide receiver, and Troy plays quarter back and safety. Ty is faster and has better hands, but Troy is still fast and he has football smarts.

He can read what you’re going to do before you know what you’re going to do. Both boys are from African descent. They both care greatly for Tate. Theme Analysis I think one theme of this story could be: do not judge a book by its cover. Troy didn’t like Ty when they first met, and it was for no reason. Once they went through the swamp experience, they grew closer and became good friends. Another example is Troy’s dad. Ty looked at him with those mobsters and thought he was going to kill him. But, after Troy’s dad saved them from the mobsters, he realized that he was a good guy in a bad position.

The travels of , from the fall of Troy to the founding of Lavinium The travels of Aeneas, from the fall of Troy to the founding of Lavinium are very important myths by which the Romans modeled themselves, and from which they were able to derive a sense of past and ‘who they were’. Archeological evidence shows that Aeneas and his story were well known throughout ancient Rome as coins and urns were found depicting Aeneas’ myth. Some of these coins were found prior to the lives of Livy and Virgil proving that the myth had been told prior to the writing of both Livy and Virgil.

The storybook version told by Virgil describes the escape and travels of Aeneas as blessed by the gods, where Aeneas puts his father on his shoulders, grabs his son by the hand and under the protection of the goddess Venus, escapes the city as it is being ransacked by the Greeks. As Virgil writes the storybook version, Livy’s recount is much more historical, as Livy gives meaning to situations, such as Aeneas having friendship ties with the Greeks, who allowed him to leave the city unharmed.

It is likely that much of the narrative is based on non-historical details which mean to portray a strong, just and blessed man as the founding father of Rome, however this essay will focus on How Livy’s portrayal of Aeneas and his journey after the Fall of Troy to the founding of Lavinium correlates or differs from other sources and authors or archeological evidence of its time. In the beginning of Livy’s “Rise of Rome – Book 1″, Livy portrays Aeneas and his journey after the Fall of Troy as a lucky escape from the ransacked city. There is general agreement, first of all, that when Troy fell the Greeks punished the other Trojans mercilessly but refrained from exercising any right of conquest in the case of two men, Aeneas and Antenor, who were connected to them by long-standing ties of friendship and have always advocated the return of Helen” (Livy). Whereas the myth states that Aeneas escapes Troy with his mother’s (Venus’) protection. “And here, amazed, I found that a great number of new companions had streamed in, women and men, a crowd gathering for exile, a wretched throng.

They had come from all sides, ready, with courage and wealth, for whatever land I wished to lead them to, across the seas. And now Lucifer was rising above the heights of Ida, bringing the dawn, and the Greeks held the barricaded entrances to the gates, nor was there any hope of rescue. I desisted, and, carrying my father, took to the hills” (Virgil, Book II: 796-804). Here we see the difference between both author’s accounts of the tale.

Both Virgil and Livy show Aeneas to be a powerful man, however Virgil makes him seem much more independent, perhaps even divine as he shapes his future by his own hand, guided by the gods. Livy, on the other hand gives us a much more realistic and believable account, indicating that Aeneas must have been indeed a powerful man, having long friendship ties with the Greeks, which is why they gave him safe passage out of the city. It is interesting to note that Livy shows that basically the Greeks allowed Aeneas to live, and therefore allowed the ancestor of Rome to establish himself.

This realism may have been un-tasteful to the Romans, seeing as they conquered the Greeks, although they acknowledged their culture. Overall, it is likely that much of the narrative is based on non-historical details which mean to portray a strong, just and blessed man as the founding father of Rome, however Livy’s recount brings him back to the mortal level. Following the leave of Troy, Aeneas journeys many places before he reaches Italy and the lands of king Latinus. In Virgil’s Aeneid, Aeneas travels and has adventures similar to those of . and he turns over in his mind old Faunus’s oracle: this must be the man, from a foreign house, prophesied by the fates as my son-in-law, and summoned to reign with equal powers, whose descendants will be illustrious in virtue, and whose might will take possession of all the world. At last he spoke, joyfully: ‘May the gods favour this beginning, and their prophecy. Trojan, what you wish shall be granted. I do not reject your gifts: you will not lack the wealth of fertile fields, or Troy’s wealth, while Latinus is king.

Only, if Aeneas has such longing for us, if he is eager to join us in friendship and be called our ally, let him come himself and not be afraid of a friendly face: it will be part of the pact, to me, to have touched your leader’s hand. Now you in turn take my reply to the king: I have a daughter whom the oracles from my father’s shrine, and many omens from heaven, will not allow to unite with a husband of our race: sons will come from foreign shores, whose blood will raise our name to the stars: this they prophesy is in store for Latium,. I both think and, if my mind foresees the truth, I hope that this is the man destiny demands. (Virgil, Book VII: 254-273). This portrayal resembles a sort of over the top storytelling by which Virgil attempts to show Aeneas’ travels to be equal in divinity and adventure to those of the Greek hero, Odysseus. Livy mentions that before arriving in Italy, Aeneas definitely traveled quite a fair distance to Carthage and Sicily, however he does not state that any mythological creatures appeared nor does he recount any tales of Queen Dido nor Aeneas’s trip to the underworld, he plainly states that the end of their voyage brought them to Italy, to the lands of King Latinus. When he learned that they were Trojans and their leader, Aeneas, son of Anchises and Venus, and since their native land had been put to the torch, they were exiles seeking a place to found a city, he was much impressed by the fame of both people and the leader and their spirit, prepared as they were for war or peace. He extended his right hand and pledged future friendship. Thereupon the two leaders struck a treaty, while the two armies saluted one another.

Aeneas, the story continues, became a guest of Latinus at his home, where the king before his household gods added a personal alliance to the public one by giving Aeneas his daughter in marriage” (Livy). It is very interesting to compare both accounts because it seems that both Livy and Virgil are saying very similar accounts for the meeting between king Latinus and Aeneas. It is interesting to note that Virgil’s account is much more detailed and elegant, whereas Livy just seems to get to the point faster and more accurate.

It seems as if it is difficult to trace history this far back, since Livy has more of a historian-type view when writing the Rise of Rome, meaning he will omit many exaggerated things such as oracles mentioning that Aeneas was prophesized to king Latinus. Livy’s recount sheds light and seems to offer a ‘logical’ reasoning. Livy states that Aeneas and the Trojans were famous throughout the lands and therefore king Latinus must have heard of them, thereby making Aeneas a powerful man worthy of aligning with.

The problem I see with Livy’s recount is that he was impressed by the spirit of the people after the sacking of Troy, and extended his right hand in friendship and alliance. In olden times it seems that without personal relationships, a king would not marry off his daughter to a man that used to be a part of a great city, and I think this is where Virgil decided to insert the idea of a prophecy which indicated that Aeneas carried the future of Rome on his shoulders and that the gods would intervene and persuade king Latinus to offer his services and lliance with the Trojans. Livy, however understands that prophecies are a little far-fetched notions and wishing to create a more realistic history, omits it, however he omits much detail, meaning he does not want to write much about a topic he himself must be unsure of. By writing; “He was much impressed by the fame of both people and the leader and their spirit, prepared as they were for war or peace.

He extended his right hand and pledged future friendship” (Livy) Livy writes true scenarios, since it is common knowledge that the Trojans were famous, were probably armed and did indeed form an alliance with king Latinus, therefore writing no more and no less allows Livy to create a true, if not full, account of what must have happened. There are some archeological evidences that prove that Aeneas existed and that the stories of his pursuit of finding a new home were not invented.

As Livy writes about Aeneas, the founder of the Roman people we are able to confirm his existence by the findings of coins dating as far back as 420-350BC showing Aeneas in different situations, however the most common coin images show Aeneas wearing a Phrygian cap or carrying his father, Anchises. The depiction of Aeneas wearing the phrygian cap shows us that there must be truth in the legend of Aeneas’s travels to found a new city since the phrygian cap is also known as the cap of liberty in the roman culture, indicating that it was a well known fact that Aeneas and his people were seeking freedom and liberty, from their current situation.

The current situation most probably being the loss of their city and therefore their liberty and security. Since wearing the cap signifies liberty and Rome was well known for accepting all sorts of people into its city when it was in its growing stages, the coins help in solidifying the concept of Aeneas as a founder of Rome. The mixing bowl dating back to 470-460BC, shows Aeneas carrying his father. Since these images were painted well before Livy and Virgil, this evidence also seems to confirm the characteristics of Aeneas being a good son who took care of his father.

Finally, the travels of Aeneas, from the fall of Troy to the founding of Lavinium are very important myths which the Romans used as tools to recount their past ancestors. It is likely that much of the narrative is based on non-historical details which mean to portray an over exaggerated founder of the Roman people, however archeological evidence as well as accounts from both Livy and Virgil seem to indicate that perhaps there is truth to the myth, albeit the divinity and mythological creatures part.

It seems to me that Aeneas was indeed able to escape or leave the ransacked city of Troy with or without the help of the Greeks and that he did indeed leave with his father, showing a deep root in family values. It also seems that Aeneas valued liberty highly since most of the coins portraying him show a phrygian cap on his head. Although Livy’s accounts differ slightly from other accounts of Aeneas’s myth, it seems that Aeneas must have existed, although there is no direct proof to show the world, meaning it could very well have been a very popular old myth.

Sources: Virgil, The Aeneid. Translated by Robert Fitzgerald “Mixing Bowl depicting Aeneas carrying his father, Anchises 470-460BC” http://www. calvin. edu/academic/phys/observatory/images/asteroid_names-Rhipeus/Aeneas. jpg Coin – Macedonia, Aineia. Ca 424-350 BC. 17mm Aeneas wearing Phrygian Cap http://numismaticmythology. com/TrojanWar. aspx

Troy Maxson, the main character in August Wilson’s critically acclaimed play Fences, talks about his father who was never there for him when he was a kid. Born in the southern United States, where African- Americans were racially discriminated during the time, Troy’s father was evil and tortured him. He feels that he has been really supportive for his kids and he is what his father had never been to him. Troy grew up with a father who thought putting food on the table and roof over the head was the only thing a father has to do for his family. Despite Troy’s attempt to be unlike his father, his style of talking to the kids and ordering them to respect him makes him exactly like his father. Fences, is not necessarily about how history repeats itself, but also how a person’s past influences their life and decisions.

Troy’s father didn’t support the family like a normal father did. His father, Maxson Sr. was there only to support his family basic needs; food on the table and roof over their heads. His father was never there for him or his family. Troy talks about his father being evil because of which nobody could withstand him and also his mother leaving him when he was young because of his father’s evilness. He says:

My mama couldn’t stand him. Couldn’t stand that evilness. She ran off when I was eight. She sneaked off one night after he had gone to sleep. Told me she was coming back for me. I ain’t never seen her no more. All his women run off and left him. He wasn’t good for nobody. (1.4.109)

His father was not good enough for everybody and whoever was with him they would only last for few days and after that they left because Troy thinks Maxson Sr. was evil which is also the main reason why Troy feels his mother left him and Troy when Troy was a young kid. Having a father who was unable to care for his son, Troy instantly realizes that he has to mature hurriedly so he can take care of himself.

At a mere age of fourteen, Troy finds himself becoming a man from a child. He realizes he has metamorphosed into a man from a kid when he and Maxson Sr. get into a fight. When his father finds him flirting with a girl when he was supposed to be working, they have a real go at each other. Troy describes the moment as,

He had them letter straps off the mule and commenced to whupping me like there was no tomorrow. I jumped up, mad and embarrassed. I was scared of my daddy. But I see where he was chasing me off so he could have the gal for himself…When I see what the matter of it was, I lost all fear of my daddy. Right there is where I become a man…at fourteen years of age. Now it was my turn to run him off… I picked up them reins and commenced to whupping on him. (1.4.109)

When Troy whips his father with the leather straps he realizes he has transformed into a man. He feels showing his father that he didn’t fear him was good enough to survive in the world by own self. Since that incident with his father, Troy associates adulthood as being strong enough to stand up for own self. He feels he has learnt that fighting with his father was the only way to prove him that he had grown up and could take care of himself.

Troy thinks that he has freed himself from his father evil influence, reviews his past and tries to learn from his father’s mistake. Since his father was irresponsible for him, Troy is inclined to be a father unlike his father in each and every way possible but unfortunately that doesn’t work out. He turns exactly like his father. He doesn’t support his sons Lyons and Cory at all. He is vile to both of his sons but Cory, his youngest son whose dream is to become a football superstar, gets affected and pays the price badly when his father shatters his dream by not letting him play. Since he and Troy don’t get along, Cory feels isolated. Even when he asks Troy why he didn’t like him, Troy responds:

Liked you? Who the hell say I got to like you? What law is there say I got to like you? Wanna stand up in my face and ask a damn fool-ass question like that. Talking about liking somebody…I go out of here every morning…bust my butt…putting up them crackers every day… ’cause I like you?… It’s my job. It’s my responsibility! … A man got to take care of his family… ‘Cause it’s my duty to take care of you. I owe a responsibility to you! (1.3.91 and 107)

Troy lets Cory know that what it takes to become a “man”. The “man” Troy is referring to is himself and he explains Cory that in order to become the “man” one has to be responsible. That person has to be able to put food on the table for his family. He also lets Cory know that one doesn’t have to love his family to take care of them. The duties and responsibilities bind a man and his family which keep them together. Duty to take care of the family was what Maxson Sr. did and Troy is following the exact footstep of his father.

Troy, as a father, spent most of his time with Cory. He was in jail when his eldest son Lyons was born. The relationship between Cory and Troy seems to be futile; every time they are together they end up in an argument. Cory feels his father doesn’t love him at all. His feeling about his father detesting him grows even stronger when his father doesn’t let him play football. Cory, in order to achieve his dream, quits his job at A&P grocery store so that he can play football. He disobeys his father by quitting his job when Troy had strictly told him to quit playing football and look for a steady job. Troy was discriminated when he was young for playing baseball and thinks his son fate will also be the same like him.

But he doesn’t realize that times have changed and at the same time he is arrogant as well. Cory ends up not playing and as always has to obey his father’s decision and forgets about his lifelong dream. Eventually one day, he gets tired of Troy and claims his dominance by standing up against his father and making him realize that he can take care and survive in the world on his own and leaves the house. Before leaving the house Troy talks to his son and says:

You a man. Now, let’s see you act like one. Turn your behind around and walk out this yard. And when you get out there in the alley…you can forget about this house. See? ‘Cause this is my house. You be a man and get your own house. (2.4.71)

When Troy battles with Cory he feels his son is more than capable to take care of himself and kicks Cory out of the house. He feels Cory has become a man because he stood up for himself. Standing up for own self is the character Troy sees as being an adult. He also realizes that his son has shown enough evidence of maturity when he fights with him. This reminds Troy what he did years ago with his father which is also the reason why Cory is kicked out of the house.

Wilson’s Fences lets us know that no matter how one tries to forget his/her past, it will always haunt him/her and will also come to play a significant role in the future. Troy grew up with a father who hardly supported him and once beat him to death. Although he tries not being like him, he follows each and every step his father had taken and in the end becomes a mirror of his father. He demands respect, thinks about himself, is unkind and harsh to his sons. Cory pays for the arrogance that his father shows but ends up being just like his father by arguing with him and leaving the house because he thinks he has matured enough. Fences in the end, symbolizes the barriers Troy who has faced and his son Cory who is going to face in life. Wilson in the end gives the readers a hope that Cory will break the barrier and become a good father to his kids unlike his father and his grandfather.