Introduction The Piano Lesson by August Wilson has provoked reflection in society throughout the decades. Written in 1937, The Piano Lesson portrayed a societal structure that still applies to the modern world. Wilson has used this play as a tool to bring insight to those who have been oppressed. Having experienced injustice as a half African-American, Wilson conveys a message that one’s hardships are a part of them. Through examination of The Piano Lesson, the audience can discover the universal lessons a piano can teach.
Given Circumstances Around the Play
Playwright’s Setting
American playwright August Wilson was born on April 27, 1945 in the poor neighborhood of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He was raised in a small apartment with his mother …show more content…
The Piano Lesson is set in 1936 (“The Piano Lesson Summary & Study Guide Description”), towards the end of the Great Depression. The New Negro Renaissance between 1919 and 1930 had ended, but the concept remained. The renaissance was a “cultural phenomenon in which the high level of black artistic and cultural production demanded and received mainstream recognition, where racial solidarity was equated with social progress, and where the idea of blackness became a commodity in its own right” (Graham). Black people began speaking out against racial injustice. Possibly the most important aspect of the movement was a growing pride in their …show more content…
Boy Willie is also described as impulsive, loquacious, and fairly unrefined in speech and manner. He is rebellious and headstrong, only following laws that he agrees with. He says that “sometimes, [he] and the sheriff don’t think alike” (Wilson 1503). Because of his rebellious nature, he has previously served three years in the Mississippi State Penitentiary (Wilson 1503). Boy Willie is driven by his need to be recognized as an equal to white men. In obtaining land, he believes that he will gain respect and be the ability to make his mark on the Earth. Boy Willie also wants to avenge his family by purchasing land that had previously belonged to the Sutter family, which owned his family when slavery was still prevalent. This idea motivates Boy Willie to make rash decisions. Wilson directly characterizes Boy Willie through stage directions in Act I. He is thirty years old, has “an infectious grin and a boyishness apt for his name” (Wilson 1500). The other characters notice Boy Willie’s eccentricity, but they all respond differently, showing their degree of opposition. Berniece, his sister, thinks he is foolish and disdains his impulsive actions. She also says that “all [he] got for [him] is talk” (Wilson 1549). Lymon Jackson, his friend, is wary of his behavior but seems to take it lightly and partakes in Boy Willie’s operations, including the ones that landed them both in the Mississippi penitentiary (Wilson 1503). Doaker,
Given Circumstances Around the Play
Playwright’s Setting
American playwright August Wilson was born on April 27, 1945 in the poor neighborhood of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He was raised in a small apartment with his mother …show more content…
The Piano Lesson is set in 1936 (“The Piano Lesson Summary & Study Guide Description”), towards the end of the Great Depression. The New Negro Renaissance between 1919 and 1930 had ended, but the concept remained. The renaissance was a “cultural phenomenon in which the high level of black artistic and cultural production demanded and received mainstream recognition, where racial solidarity was equated with social progress, and where the idea of blackness became a commodity in its own right” (Graham). Black people began speaking out against racial injustice. Possibly the most important aspect of the movement was a growing pride in their …show more content…
Boy Willie is also described as impulsive, loquacious, and fairly unrefined in speech and manner. He is rebellious and headstrong, only following laws that he agrees with. He says that “sometimes, [he] and the sheriff don’t think alike” (Wilson 1503). Because of his rebellious nature, he has previously served three years in the Mississippi State Penitentiary (Wilson 1503). Boy Willie is driven by his need to be recognized as an equal to white men. In obtaining land, he believes that he will gain respect and be the ability to make his mark on the Earth. Boy Willie also wants to avenge his family by purchasing land that had previously belonged to the Sutter family, which owned his family when slavery was still prevalent. This idea motivates Boy Willie to make rash decisions. Wilson directly characterizes Boy Willie through stage directions in Act I. He is thirty years old, has “an infectious grin and a boyishness apt for his name” (Wilson 1500). The other characters notice Boy Willie’s eccentricity, but they all respond differently, showing their degree of opposition. Berniece, his sister, thinks he is foolish and disdains his impulsive actions. She also says that “all [he] got for [him] is talk” (Wilson 1549). Lymon Jackson, his friend, is wary of his behavior but seems to take it lightly and partakes in Boy Willie’s operations, including the ones that landed them both in the Mississippi penitentiary (Wilson 1503). Doaker,