The Piano Lesson - 1155 Words

The Piano Lesson The made for television movie, The Piano Lesson, is based on the eponymous play by August Wilson that seeks to analyze the significance of a piano to the Charles family. Through the course of the teleplay, it becomes evident that the piano is more than just a musical instrument and that it is, in fact, strongly tied to the Charles family and their ancestors. The Piano Lesson is a Southern Gothic play in which the living, as well as the dead, have a strong connection to the piano. The piano has a tragic origin that dates back generations. The piano was originally obtained by Robert Sutter who traded slaves for the instrument because he could not afford to purchase it outright. The piano was meant to be a gift for his wife, who coincidentally grew weary of the instrument and began to miss her slaves. In an attempt to quell her depression, Robert Sutter commissioned that the slaves portraits be engraved in the piano; in addition to the slaves that were traded, the woodcarver also inclu ded their families and family histories. Because of the ties to slavery between the piano, the Sutters, and the Charles family, Berniece and Boy Charles came to believe that as long as the Sutters owned the piano, they would continue to own the Charles. Due to this belief, the Charles become obsessed with obtaining and owning the piano. During the course of trying to get the piano from the Sutters, the Charles sacrificed much of themselves and caused many deaths.Show MoreRelatedSummary Of The Piano Lesson 1750 Words   |  7 PagesIn August Wilson’s The Piano Lesson, there are multiple characters that struggle with things that happened in the past. Bernice Charles is often shown fighting with her brother, Boy Willie, over selling the piano that has carvings of their family’s history, which is very valuable to her. Another thing Bernice fights is her family’s history as slaves and this is shown through her daughter’s lack of knowledge of her familyâ€⠄¢s history. She says she does this to keep her daughter safe because those whoRead MoreSummary Of The Piano Lesson Essay1733 Words   |  7 Pages In August Wilson’s, The Piano Lesson, there are multiple characters that struggle with things that happened in the past. The character Bernice Charles is often shown fighting with her brother over selling the piano that has carvings of their family’s history, which seems to be very valuable to Bernice. Another thing Bernice fights is her family’s history and this is shown through her daughter’s lack of knowledge of her family’s history. She says she does this to keep her daughter safe becauseRead MoreEssay Critique of The Piano Lesson679 Words   |  3 PagesCritique of The Piano Lesson *No Works Cited The Piano Lesson is a masterpiece in itself, earning a Pulitzer Prize in 1990. However, this particular play has elements not typical of modern plays. It has the quintessential plot that encompasses a conflict. On the surface, the conflict is between Boy Willie and his sister, Bernice. However, beneath that conflict, lies the symbolism of the characters. Boy Willie symbolizes the American way or the white mans culture. Bernice is the African-AmericanRead MorePiano Lesson Symbolism Essay1743 Words   |  7 Pagesmethod of storytelling in The Piano Lesson. Symbolism is a technique used by writers to associate one object or idea with another. This technique is essential in The Piano Lesson due to the small-scale, rural environment in which the story is told. Important thoughts and ideas that Wilson is trying to portray about African-American society could never be expressed without symbolism, due to this small setting. There are many examples of symbolism in The Piano Lesson, but one can get a good ideaRead MoreThe Piano Lesson, By August Wilson1054 Words   |  5 PagesIn The Piano Lesson, by August Wilson, Berniece struggles with her personal connection with the piano. Her families past reveal her relationship with the piano. The piano meant a lot of things to a lot of different people over the years. The piano is a complex and multilayers symbol; its meanings are both personal and political. For example, Berniece was affected by the piano positively and negatively. She had a sentimental connection with it and never wanted to get rid of it. But the piano had aRead MoreThe Piano Lesson by August Wilson Essay2077 Words   |  9 PagesThe Piano Lesson by August Wilson: The Wisdom of the Ivories Can a treasured object of the past serve as a teacher for the future? Once people share the historical significance of it, an object can symbolize the overcoming of hardships of those lives in which it becomes a part. Therefore, it may indeed â€Å"instruct† future generations to glean wisdom from the past. August Wilson’s play The Piano Lesson centers on the trials and triumphs of a family affected by the enslaving of their ancestors andRead MoreEssay about Analysis: The Piano Lesson by August Wilson1735 Words   |  7 Pages August Wilson’s The Piano Lesson, tells a story of a family haunted by the pain of their past and their struggle to find peace to move forward. The story begins with character Boy Willie coming up from the south visiting his sister Bernice. Boy Willie introduces the idea of selling the family’s heirloom, a piano, to raise enough money to buy the land on which his ancestors were enslaved. However, both Boy Willie and his sister Be rniece own half a half of the piano and she refuses to let Boy WillieRead MoreEssay on Symbolism in August Wilsons Piano Lesson1006 Words   |  5 Pages In The Piano Lesson each central character learns a lesson. August Wilson uses plenty of symbolism throughout his play, the strongest symbol being the piano itself, representing the familys history, their long struggle, and their burden of their race. Throughout the play, the conflict revolves around the piano, and Berniece and Boy Willies contrasting views about its significance and about what should be done with it. Berniece is ashamed and cannot let go of the past, or the piano, and Boy WillieRead MoreThe Piano Lesson Is A Play That Was Written By August Wilson.1345 Words   |  6 PagesThe Piano Lesson is a play that was written by August Wilson. The story is used in a collection of plays by Wilson to show the struggles of African Americans throughout the twentieth century The story takes place in 1937 Pittsburgh with an Afr ican American family that battle within themselves on whether or not to keep a family heirloom, a carved piano. Wilson hits hot points of the past and today with his view on civil rights and the power of death. In The Piano Lesson is a tool that allows the readerRead More Taking a Deeper Look at The Piano Lesson by August Wilson Essay1171 Words   |  5 PagesTaking a Deeper Look at The Piano Lesson by August Wilson Winner of multiple awards such as the Tony Award, the New York Drama Critics Circle Award, and the Pulitzer Prize, August Wilson is known most for his forceful cultural plays. Born and raised in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Wilson was born to a white father that later abandoned his family, and a black mother. Wilson dropped out of school in the ninth grade after being accused of plagiarism. Wilson after went to public libraries and read