The Ghost Story of The Piano Lesson
In the play The Piano Lesson, written by August Wilson, the story is filled with history and nightmare represented by a piano, once owned by James Sutter. Sutter, the ghost in the play, haunts Boy Willie’s family because his family now has possession of the piano. The piano remains at Berniece’s and Doakers house in Pittsburgh. Sutter has recently die and Boy Willie has a goal to sell the piano and buy Sutter’s land. Boy Willie wants his own farm so he can grow his own crop, as he states “Gin my cotton. Get my seed” (Scene 1, 1247). Berniece, Boy Willie's sister, is not ready to sell the piano because it is extremely important to the family history. Sutter appears many times throughout the play, looking for revenge in the mortal world. The appearance and timing of the ghost causes more and more tension every time it shows up. As long as the Ghost of Sutter is around there will be a manifestation of lack of unity in the family.
The piano was an anniversary present to Miss Ophelia, who was the wife of Sutter. The piano was purchased by exchanging One and a half slaves. Those slaves were Boy Willie’s grandparents. Boy Charles and other family members stole the piano from Sutter because the piano was a symbol of unity, the family’s African American decent, and their sufferings as slaves. During the process of stealing the piano from Sutter, Boy …show more content…
Boy Willie wants Sutter’s land as a form of revenge to what he has done to his past family members. The ghost will haunt Boy Willie until he purchases that important piece of land. Boy Willie becomes aggressive every time the ghost of Sutter appears in the play. When Boy Willie tries to get Sutter out of the house he exclaimed, “Hey Sutter! Sutter! Get your ass out this house! Come on and get some of this water! You done drowned in the well, come on and get some more of this water!” (Scene 5,
In the play The Piano Lesson, written by August Wilson, the story is filled with history and nightmare represented by a piano, once owned by James Sutter. Sutter, the ghost in the play, haunts Boy Willie’s family because his family now has possession of the piano. The piano remains at Berniece’s and Doakers house in Pittsburgh. Sutter has recently die and Boy Willie has a goal to sell the piano and buy Sutter’s land. Boy Willie wants his own farm so he can grow his own crop, as he states “Gin my cotton. Get my seed” (Scene 1, 1247). Berniece, Boy Willie's sister, is not ready to sell the piano because it is extremely important to the family history. Sutter appears many times throughout the play, looking for revenge in the mortal world. The appearance and timing of the ghost causes more and more tension every time it shows up. As long as the Ghost of Sutter is around there will be a manifestation of lack of unity in the family.
The piano was an anniversary present to Miss Ophelia, who was the wife of Sutter. The piano was purchased by exchanging One and a half slaves. Those slaves were Boy Willie’s grandparents. Boy Charles and other family members stole the piano from Sutter because the piano was a symbol of unity, the family’s African American decent, and their sufferings as slaves. During the process of stealing the piano from Sutter, Boy …show more content…
Boy Willie wants Sutter’s land as a form of revenge to what he has done to his past family members. The ghost will haunt Boy Willie until he purchases that important piece of land. Boy Willie becomes aggressive every time the ghost of Sutter appears in the play. When Boy Willie tries to get Sutter out of the house he exclaimed, “Hey Sutter! Sutter! Get your ass out this house! Come on and get some of this water! You done drowned in the well, come on and get some more of this water!” (Scene 5,