Review of The Piano Lesson
... the piano. His sister, Berniece refuses to do so. Boy Willie wants to use the piano to buy land, but Berniece want to hold on the thing her father died for. The Point of Attack begins when we really see Boy Willie’s intentions. Berniece told him not to sell the piano, but he goes on and pursues buyers. The Inciting Incident is when Doaker’s tells the history of the piano. Even though Willie Boy know the history he tries to move the piano, Berniece stops them as she tells them about the memory of her mother. The Complication is when Boy Willie and Lymon begin the move the piano of the house for it to be sold. Berniece brings down a gun and Wining Boy breaks up the tension. The Climax is when Boy Willie fights the ghost of Sutter. Berniece realizes what she must do and begins to play the piano while calling on the help of her ancestors. The Resolution is Whining Boy going home, Willie leaving, and Berniece giving thanks. Boy Willie is the main character in the play. He is the fast-talking, impulsive brother of Berniece. He wants to sell the piano. Berniece is the sister of Willie. She does not want to sell the piano. Doaker is Berniece and Boy Willie’s uncle. He is the owner of the house and serves as referee between Berniece and Boy Willie. Wining Boy is Doaker’s brother. He tells the family history and is used to break up tension. Lymon is Boy Willie’s longtime friend. Avery is a preacher who is courting Berniece. Maretha is Berniece’s daughter. The main theme is what to do with one’s legacy. The Charles’ legacy is in the piano, which is an artifact as well as a record of their history. Boy Willie wanted to leave a mark. He wanted to sell the piano to buy the land that his ancestors once worked. He wanted a more practical use of the piano. Berniece wants to hold on to the piano and the memory that it holds. At the same time she does not want it to be touched because she does not want to wake the spirits. She does not tell her daughter about the piano’s history in fear of waking spirits. Boy Willie on the other hand is pride of the history and wants her to pass it on. The Diction used in The Piano Lesson is that of the early 1930s. Wilson carefully chooses the words he used. He made sure that the dialogue used was that of African Americans. There is a lot of mu...