Summer Reading Prompt: The Piano Lesson
Summer Reading Prompt: The Piano Lesson
Possession and ownership often create quarrels between family members. These possession feuds may last for generations. The Piano Lesson, by August Wilson, illustrates a black family assert their possession on an ancient piano. The play details how the piano succumbs to the focus of ownership conflicts within the family. The characters, Boy Willie and his sister, Berniece, both fight for the the right to retain the piano or sell it.
The dilemma for ownership of the piano first occurs when Boy Willie, a black man with boyish features, declares possession of the piano. “Hey, Doaker . . . if Berniece don’t want to sell that piano . . . I’m gonna cut it in half and go on and sell my half.” (28). Boy Willie
resolves his right to obtain his part of the piano and sell it for money to buy property from Mr. Sutter, a white man who dies mysteriously but left behind the sweet land Boy Willie craves for. Boy Willie falls into the sin of greed, since he merely perceives the piano as a marketable item and desires piano for his benefit of receiving more money; unfortunately, Berniece objects his decision and resolves to keep the piano.
Possession and ownership often create quarrels between family members. These possession feuds may last for generations. The Piano Lesson, by August Wilson, illustrates a black family assert their possession on an ancient piano. The play details how the piano succumbs to the focus of ownership conflicts within the family. The characters, Boy Willie and his sister, Berniece, both fight for the the right to retain the piano or sell it.
The dilemma for ownership of the piano first occurs when Boy Willie, a black man with boyish features, declares possession of the piano. “Hey, Doaker . . . if Berniece don’t want to sell that piano . . . I’m gonna cut it in half and go on and sell my half.” (28). Boy Willie
resolves his right to obtain his part of the piano and sell it for money to buy property from Mr. Sutter, a white man who dies mysteriously but left behind the sweet land Boy Willie craves for. Boy Willie falls into the sin of greed, since he merely perceives the piano as a marketable item and desires piano for his benefit of receiving more money; unfortunately, Berniece objects his decision and resolves to keep the piano.