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The Piano Lesson Play Analysis

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In August Wilson’s play The Piano Lesson, Berniece struggles to come to terms with the violence in her family’s past. Berniece relocates up north to escape the violence prevalent in her family legacy. Berniece is unable to reconcile with this fact, because of this she is unable to discuss this part of history as well as other aspects of her family history with her daughter Maretha. Berniece’s hesitation to reveal this truth to her daughter is detrimental because of the fact that Maretha is oblivious to an important part of her family history. In the end of the play Berniece is finally able to acknowledge the importance of this part of history, as a result she realizes that this is something which she should share with her daughter rather …show more content…

The carvings of the piano and the piano itself remind her of her mother and father and the sacrifices they made. The piano reminds Berniece about how her great grandfather carved the family’s faces into the piano. It reminds her of how Mama Ola spent hours polishing it with her blood, sweat, and tears. Berniece remembers how her father dies trying to get the piano back. Although the piano holds significant value, she still refrains from sharing the reason for this importance. Despite the fact that the piano has great significance to her, Berniece refuses to play the piano. Berniece allows Maretha to play the piano, she teaches her songs that she can practice. When Avery asks Berniece about using the piano for his church Berniece says to him “ I done told you I don’t play on that piano. Ain’t no need in you to keep talking about that choir stuff. When my mama died I shut the top of that piano and I ain’t never opened it since. I was only playing it for her. When my daddy died seem like all her life went into that piano. She used to have me playing on it… had Miss Eula come in and teach me… say when I played she could hear my daddy talking to her.” “I used to think them pictures came alive and walked through the house. Sometimes late at night I could hear my mama talking to them. I said that wasn’t gonna happen to me. I don’t play the

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