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Essay / Research Paper Abstract
A 3 page paper which examines what expectations are placed on the character of Berniece in August Wilson’s play The Piano Lesson. Bibliography lists 2 sources.
Page Count:
3 pages (~225 words per page)
File: JA7_RAfce.rtf
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Unformatted sample text from the term paper:
with the ancestry of an African American family. This piano is a narrative of the struggles of this family, and how far they have come from days of slavery. The
piano has played an instrumental part in the history, even having been traded for slaves. In this story the conflict primarily involves a brother (Willie Boy) and a sister (Berniece).
The following paper examines the role and expectations of Berniece. Berniece in The Piano Lesson by August Wilson The focus of the conflict involving the piano involves the
fact that Willie Boy, who is not always the most noble of men, wants to sell the piano and get money and hopefully pull himself up in society. Berniece is
insistent that the piano never be sold because it possesses the history of their people, their struggles, and ultimately has a spirit of its own. She has not played the
piano since their mother died, but she is still unwilling to part with it. One author notes, "The Piano Lesson could conceivably have told Bernieces story - the attempt of
a strong woman to salvage the family history from a brother who would sell it" (Boan 263). In this one can see that one of her roles, and what she
expects of herself, involves being the keeper of the history of the family. There is likely many elements within her character that believe that if she were to sell this
piano their history would be gone and that it would demonstrate a lack of respect and appreciation for where they came from and the struggles of previous generations. Boan
also notes that "Berniece believes in the mythical power of the piano and acknowledges it as a point of contact with her ancestral heritage...this explains her absolute reluctance to sell
...