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The Piano Lesson Toni Morrison

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Maya Lewbart- In her introduction to The Piano Lesson, Toni Morrison says the play represents the triumph of bravery over fear. Why might this be true? The play represents the triumph of bravery over fear due to it culminating in the resolution of the conflict only when fears are overcome. Throughout the play, Berniece is afraid of the piano and absolutely refuses to play it. At the very end, Sutter’s ghost is attacking Boy Willie and “Berniece realizes what she must do…She begins to play. The song is found piece by piece. It is an old urge to song that is both a commandment and a plea” (Wilson 106). The song is described as a commandment because it is only when she confronts her fear that Berniece finds her inner power and strength that …show more content…

In the foreword, Toni Morrison analyzes Wilson’s impact and the significance of the ending of the play: “And the relief, when the turmoil surrounding the ghost and the piano is put to rest, is an extreme, if not permanent, experience of the triumph of bravery over fear” (Wilson xvii). Morrison describes the relief felt when the ghost is banished as a “permanent” symbol of bravery overcoming fear. This emphasizes the importance of standing up to one’s fears and the positive impact that doing so can have. This is the moment that the entire play has been building up to, and the relief is only felt when Berneice overcomes her fear and saves her family. While singing her song at the piano, Berniece calls upon her ancestors to help her banish Sutter’s ghost: “Mama Berniece / I want you to help me / Mama Esther / I want you to help me / Papa Boy Charles / I want you to help me / Mama Ola / I want you to help me” (Wilson 107). Berniece realizes while playing the piano that she will not be able to banish Sutter’s ghost on her own, so she calls upon help. She cannot be entirely sure that the ghosts are real at this point, so she can only hope

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have a great relationship with Boy Willie. Once Lymon notices the piano and tells Boy Willie, this is where the drama begins. Boy Willie tells Lymon that he wants to sell the piano because he thinks it is worth a lot of money. Doaker already knows that Berniece will not let him sell the piano because of the significance it has within the family. Another reason Berniece does not want to sell the piano is because her daughter, Maretha, is learning how to play it.

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It won't go with the buyer. It'll shrivel and shrink" (Wilson 1.2.50). She feels that it is almost profane to sell the piano, since so much of their family history is wrapped up in it. When the ghost of Sutter attacks, Berniece finally conquers her fears and plays the piano. She calls on the spirits of her ancestors to help banish Sutter's ghost.

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The history of what the piano and her family makes it hard for her to have any contact with the piano. Berniece also mentions that she does not want to play it because she might wake the spirits of her ancestors that had passed. We can conclude that, that is the reason she says " Avery.. I done told you I don’t want to play that piano, now or no other time"(page 71). But that changed till one day the family experienced the presence of Sutter, and in order to remove it Berniece was brave enough to play the piano and call out her ancestors to help them remove the

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Berniece's brother, Boy Willie, wants to profit off of the piano and sell it to buy the land of Sutter who recently passed away. Berniece disagrees with this incentive and believes the piano should be preserved to preserve the history it withholds. Throughout the play, Boy Willie tries to convince Berniece that it would make

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This forces them into two opposing spectrums and neither at the beginning of the play are willing to back down from their respective views. While Boy Willie mentions Boy Charles in his reasoning to sell the piano, Berniece remembers Mama Ola when she talks about keeping the piano. Watching and hearing about both of their parents shapes their opinion on what should be done with the piano and their point of views. However, at the end of the play Boy Willie backs down from his stance when he sees Berniece play the piano and call on her ancestors to stop Sutter’s ghost. In this moment, Boy Willie sees the importance of the piano and no longer tries to forcefully remove the piano.

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When Berniece expresses her feelings about her husband's death, it shows that this may be a large contributing factor to Berniece’s constant problem with Boy Willie. He is insulted by this comment as any person would be, but Boy Willie’s persistence in selling the piano does not stop. Boy Willie continues to grab a rope and try to strap up the piano in an attempt to make it easier to move out of the house. “Come on Lymon, get up on this side, throw that rope over there and tie it onto the leg.” Boy Willie shouts (81)

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Legacy In August Wilson’s The Piano Lesson, Berniece struggles with the piano and it’s memories brought on by her mother. During the play Berniece argues the piano’s importance to Boy Willie. However, she has a shift in attitude. Berniece doesn't really interact with the piano or want anything to do with it

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Boy Willie, unlike Bernice, actively remembers and talks about his past, and is willing to play the piano. However, his telling of his family's story is filled with anger as Boy Willie spitefully thinks of his father as weak. For him, the piano is a ticket away from the injustice in his life. Boy Willie wants to use the piano to buy his family's former owner's land, escaping the oppression he found in his past Boy Willie's resolution is wrestling with a ghost over the sale of the piano, eventually leaving empty

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Bernice says this to further explain why selling the piano wouldn’t benefit him personally. Berniece also feels that the piano could benefit Maretha. She explains to Avery that the piano would be

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That's just like if I let them watermelons sit out there and rot. I'd be a fool.” (51). Boy Willie only views the piano as something he needs to make money on to build his future. He does not deny the past and the history behind the piano, however he forgets to respect and appreciate it.

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