The Piano Lesson Analysis

Playwright August Wilson writes his drama’s in order to demonstrate the struggles of Black Americans throughout the twentieth century. In fact, August Wilson uses The Piano Lesson to illustrate the hardships of two siblings involving conflicts, symbolism, religion, and folklore. Boy Willie focuses mainly on the time at which his family was held captive as slaves to a chance to buy his own piece of land. The Piano Lesson demonstrates the importance of family heirlooms and how no amount of money could ever replace the sentimental value of they hold. Berniece and Boy Willie constantly argue as to whether the piano should be sold to help re-write the family name or should remain with Berniece because of the family significance. Bernice, unlike Boy Willie, understands the piano represents not only her mother 's love but also the struggles of their family endures in order to retrieve the piano. Boy Willie would ,however, …show more content…
Folklore plays an prominent role in showing how Sutter was pushed down his well by someone or something. The only plausible explanation in Sutter’s death is Boy Willie pushing Sutter down his well in order to buy his land. Berniece suspects it was Boy Willie who pushed Sutter down his well, while Boy Willie explains it was actually the Ghost of the Yellow Dog. Lymon states, “The Ghost of the Yellow Dog pushed him. That what the people say. They found him in his well and all the people say it must the Ghost of the Yellow Dog. Just like all them other men” (15, act 1). The Ghost of the Yellow Dog are the spirits of Boy Willie 's father, along with multiple hobos, who were killed in a boxcar fire. While the Ghost may be real to Boy Willie and Lymon, The Ghost of the Yellow is simply a tale of folklore. Although folklore is prevalent, it is ironically mixed with religion. For instance, Boy Willie shares his beliefs concerning the power of death. He