I
am new to August Wilson’s work, but I do have to say that “The Piano Lesson” is
an interesting story with two good different point-of-view. A brother, Boy
Willie, and sister, Berniece, are not in good terms, not only because Berniece
blames her brother for the death of her husband but also of a valuable item, a
piano. Berniece does not want to sell the piano because it has her family
generation carved in it and it represents the hard work that her dad went
through, while Boy Willie wants to sell it as a vengeance for his father to buy
the land where his ancestors worked. “The Piano Lesson” is not only a feud
between siblings but about a generation of a family, which is carved in a
piano. There is a lesson in this story, which is obvious as the title says it
“The Piano LESSON” which, I might be wrong; in my perspective would be that, in
order to go on with our lives is not to forget our family history or be
traumatized by it, but to accept it and understand it.
I agree that people need to accept who they are and who their family is. But what if someone does not agree with what their family was involved in or whatever. Should they still be expected to accept where they come from? I think not.
ReplyDeleteI agree Sarahi, there was a point in the Piano Lesson. I believe there were different point of views depending on who's side you were on. If you were on Berniece's side, you might say out of respect for her ancestors she didn't want to wake the spirits by playing on the piano so she choose to keep of of it and guard it with her life. If you were on Boy Willie's side you might agree with the fact that he thought his ancestors would be proud of him if he sold the piano to buy Sutters land, the land his ancestors slaved on. Boy Willie didn't want to work for anyone else.
ReplyDeleteAgreed! Although, there are many different point of views, so everyone has a different way of looking at it. But i agree with what your saying, in order to go on with our lives we need to accept it, and understand it.
ReplyDeleteIndeed, The play does a wonderful job of getting the theme of embracing your history across. The internal conflict of Bernice and the conflict between Boy Willie and Bernice add to the story very well
ReplyDeleteThe story is a sure a big lesson on the tides of our families and surviving with out everday lifes. I would have not known which side; I would have choses from keeping the piano that was very valuble not in the price of money but an antique that has been passed down in the family lineage.
ReplyDeleteVery good to point out that is shows us that we must accept our history in order to live peacefully. I believe this is very true and that was the conflict Berniece was facing.
ReplyDeleteI agree with keeping heirlooms from ancestors to keep as memories very good point, but I don't think that Boy Willie did it out of vengeance I think it was more on the line of wanting land and doing anything to get it not caring that the piano was in his family for a few generations.
ReplyDeleteThe title definitely suits the overall message. People should embrace their family histories and try to look past their own personal differences.
ReplyDelete