In Fences, Act 1, Scene 4, what effect does Troy's story about his father have on Lyons?

Answer:

When Troy and Bono share the stories of their fathers (and their backgrounds in general), Lyons, as well as the audience, learn about the black experience. At first Lyons has a hard time understanding why Troy's father put up with the oppressive working conditions of a sharecropper. Troy makes him understand how family responsibility, as well as lack of opportunities, limited his father's choices. Lyons also learns how much his father suffered in his early years, going out on his own at age 14. Learning about his grandfather and Troy's background helps Lyons understand the history of his people in general and his family in particular. The information seems to give Lyons a new appreciation for Troy; after Troy tells the story, Lyons feels a greater connection to his father and again invites him to hear him play music. Bono is impressed by Lyons's accomplishment, saying "You got to be good to play down at the Grill," but Troy is unimpressed and once again declines, missing an opportunity to bond with his son. This rejection, following Troy's story about his own father's callousness, is an example of situational irony. It also reinforces the theme about emotional suppression passing from generation to generation.