Piano Lesson

Often times, people are influenced by different forces on a particular topic, which in

result, can have several consequences. In August Wilson's play, The Piano Lesson, one of the

main characters, Berniece, is pulled in different directions by conflicting forces and desires.

While she desires to hold on to a family keepsake, a piano, it is also the reason why she is

haunted by an old friend. Berniece's difficulty coping with the piano has taken a huge role in her

family, as it provides a key part in showing and describing her character throughout the course of

the play, as well as developing several arguments and bringing tension between her and others.

Although Berniece deeply wants to keep an important part of her family’s history, her

mind is split as she fails to really use the piano and instead allows a ghost to haunt her house. As

she fails to make the connection, it is stated that by getting rid of the piano, would also rid the

house of the ghost. However, Boy Willie, Berniece's brother, has different opinions about the

piano. Wanting to purchase a diseased relative's land down south, Boy Willie wants to sell the

piano and combine the money with his own business encounters to buy the land. When Boy

Willie comes up North in attempt to convince Berniece to sell the piano, he opens up several

disagreements between the two. While Berniece and Boy Willie really are not on good terms, it

appears as if neither of their positions on whether or not to sell the piano are moveable.

Berniece, connected with the piano because of what her grandfather did to receive it, is unwilling

to let go of the past. With Boy Willie’s persistence, opens up the reasons as to why Berniece is

reluctant to sell the piano. Doaker, Berniece and Boy Willie’s uncle, attempts to explain the

situation to Boy Willie. Apparently, the piano was sold to a man in exchange for slaves. The

slaves that were...