August Wilson's "The Piano Lesson"

Paper Summary:

This paper introduces, discusses, and analyzes the play "The Piano Lesson" by August Wilson. Specifically, it discusses the situation of the main character at the end of the play whose protagonist is Berniece, the main character and the most affected by the piano in the play. The paper notes that her brother, Boy Willie, is also a central character in the play, and the antagonist in a way, because he is the one who wants to sell the piano to buy land. The paper discusses that, although it is not human, the piano is also a central "character" in the play, because it is the element of the play that holds it together and it is the main issue of contention within the family.

From the Paper:

"I thought the plot of the play was pretty solid. Families often have tension and difficulties, and it was easy to understand why it was so important to Boy Willie to buy the land where his ancestors worked as slaves. He says, "I take my hat off whenever somebody say my daddy's name. But I ain't gonna be no fool about no sentimental value. You can sit up here and look at the piano for the next hundred years and it's just gonna be a piano. You can't make more than that (Wilson 51). I think everyone wants to own land, or their own place, and his reasons were even more important. I also thought the piano was a good way to drive the family apart and then bring them back together."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Wilson, August. The Piano Lesson. New York: Plume, 1990.

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• Analytical Essay # 34429 : "Raisin in the Sun" and "The Piano Lesson"
• Analytical Essay # 119371 : "Themes in "The Piano Lesson"

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