Piano Lesson, by August Wilson, Who One

¶ … Piano Lesson, by August Wilson, who one a Pulitzer Prize for the work in 1990. Specifically, it will address the form, protagonist, and analyze a character in the play. THE PIANO LESSON The Piano Lesson," written by August Wilson is a climatic play with the climax coming when Berniece finally sits down to play the piano, something she has not done for many years. She conjures up the spirits of her dead ancestors to help her save the piano, and let go of her own personal turmoil.

"I want you to help me Mama Esther.. I want you to help me Papa Boy Charles.. I want you to help me Mama Ola" (Wilson 107). She calls forth the ghost that Willie Boy literally wrestles at the end of the play, leading up to their ultimate reconciliation. Boy Willie gives up the piano because he finally realizes the importance it plays in the family. "Hey, Berniece.. If you and Maretha don't keep playing on that piano.. ain't. no telling.. me and Sutter both liable to be back" (Wilson 108).

Berniece is one of the most pivotal characters of the play, second only to Boy Willie in terms of importance. She appears in almost all the scenes, and is the only thing in the way of Boy Willie and his dreams. She is a woman living in the past because she mourns her dead husband Crawley, her dead parents, and her heritage. She seems to think she has little to contribute to the family, except for her love of what has already happened.

Berniece says to Lymon, "I just stay at home most of the time. Take care of Maretha" (Wilson 79). Berniece played the piano as a child for her mother, and has not touched the piano since. She also served as the priestess who channeled the family's ghosts. Her music enabled her mother to speak with her dead father and helped animate the carved figures her grandfather carved on the piano.

As she continues to live in the past, people begin to get disgusted with her and her lifestyle, including Avery, her boyfriend. What is you ready for, Berniece? You just gonna drift along from day-to-day. Life is more than making it from one day to another. You gonna look up one day and it's all gonna be past you. Life's gonna be gone out of your hands -- there won't be enough to make nothing with.

I'm standing here now, Berniece -- but I don't know how much longer I'm gonna be standing here waiting on you (Wilson 68). Berniece also changes at the end of the play. She finally sits down to play the piano again, which she has not done since her youth. She brings the family back together - not just Boy Willy, but even the spirits of her ancestors, and saves their heritage. The Piano Lesson's" protagonist is Boy Willy, he is the central pivot the play revolves around.

It is his idea to sell the piano so he can buy a small plot of land that belonged to the family's ancestor. He also sets the main action of the play in motion, when he barges into Berniece's house to get the piano to sell. I take my hat off whenever somebody say my daddy's name. But I ain't gonna be no fool about no sentimental value. You can sit up here and look at the piano for the next hundred years and it's just gonna be a piano.

You can't make more than that. Now I want to get Sutter's land and I can go down.