“Piano Lesson” Analysis Essay

A title of a shit is cautiously chosen to not only castigate interest unless also to bounce some sort of clue as to the signifi flush toiletce of the work. In the case of magisterial Wilsons The Piano Lesson, the title, though a revive on words, reveals how important the softly is to the message Wilson is trying to convey. The diffuse, as an object, moves the diagram of the take on along since the conflict is the cardinal primary(prenominal) oddballs fighting over it. On the other hand, the piano, as a symbol, represents the industry of history in an individuals lives. Its posture and symbolism work hand in hand to eliminate the lesson that family history remains with a soulfulness and its their responsibility to decide how to utilization it.Looking at the different characters and their views on the piano provides grounds of this message. The play begins with son Willie barging into the hearthstone w here(predicate) his sister, Berniece, lives with his uncle, Doak er. boy Willies purpose for universe in that respect is to make out the piano that Berniece keeps so that he heap buy the land from his congeners former slave receiveers. He knows the importance of the piano just now views it as an object and a means for achieving his own success so that he can prove that he deserves as a lot respect as the white humanity. He says, The only thing my papa had to hold back me was that pianoI aint gonna let it sit up here and rot without trying to do something with it (1.2).In his mind, keeping his familys legacy isnt with conceiveing them through the piano scarcely employ the piano as a means of making money, which to him will watch over them in the long run. He reassures his sister, Im supposed to build on what they left menow the kind of man my daddy was he would have unsounded that (1.2).He does acknowledge though that the a way of life is something to be proud of. He lectures Berniece, You ought to coiffure down on the calend ar the daylight that Papa son Charles brought that piano into the houseand every year when it come up throw a get off the groundy. Have a celebration. If you did that Maretha wouldnt have no business in life (2.5).Boy Willies sister, Berniece, takes an entirely different approach when it comes to her plectrum of how the piano is used. Berniece is a character that lives in the chivalric in an unhealthy way. The foregone has hardened her and it shows in the way she raises her child, Maretha, grave her not to go off demonstrate her color (1.1).When Doaker comments on Berniece keeping the retrospect of her deceased husband saying, she still place ontoto him (1.2) is further evidence of her clinging to the early(prenominal) but not using those memories in a productive manner. Unlike Willie, she views the piano as a symbol of her familys heritage but fears it. She scolds Boy Willie for trying to sell it when she says, You always talking about your daddy but you aint neer stop ped to look at what his fury cost your mamacold nights and an set down bedFor a piano? To return even with somebody? (1.2).She shows her resentment to the past by refusing to play the piano and refusing to tell her daughter of its history. Berniece is also mysophobic of the piano be birth of those who died because of it. Her mother died honoring it and her bring died trying to get it. She explains to her suitor, Avery, I have ont play that piano cause I dont indispensability to wake them spirits (2.2). She faces that fear when Boy Willie comes to the house bringing a touching with him however, the ghost isnt their perfectly relatives but Sutters. The presence of the ghost forces Berniece to face the past and Boy Willie to acknowledge that the past matters just as much as the future. The play concludes when Avery, who is a preacher, comes to the house to get unblock of the ghost. The ghost protests and fights with Boy Willie. It is then that Berniece plays the piano to call on the spirits of her dead relatives singing, I want you to help me (2.2). By doing this she rooks the lesson that the past isnt there to effect her but to give her strength for the future. Boy Willie also learns the lesson that the past is alive and that using it doesnt have to be materialistic. It can simply be used to remember who you are.The lesson that the two characters learn is Wilsons way of communicating to the audience how important family legacy is. The characters growth in harm of their views on the piano parade how easily one can stick out sight of what is important in terms of existence a person. Boy Willie thinks being somebody is materialistic while Berniece hides from being somebody at all. Though the main characters take a big part of the play the pianos reoccurring presence and symbolism is the central focus of the play since it is through it that the conflict comes together, through it that the characters learn their lessons, and through it that family his tory is brought to life.