The Piano Lesson

by August Wilson

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Themes: The New Generation's Struggle for Freedom and Dignity

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Boy Willie represents the new generation of African Americans growing up in the South. He believes that the only way for African Americans to gain freedom, dignity, and respect is to stand up for what belongs to them: “If you got a piece of land you’ll find everything else fall right into place. You can stand right up next to the white man and talk about the price of cotton . . . the weather, and anything else you want to talk about.” Like many characters in August Wilson’s plays, however, Boy Willie has a complexity that defies black-and-white, right-or-wrong analyses. He holds firmly onto what he believes and is not easily influenced by other people’s opinions. However, his youthful energy and enthusiasm sometimes impugn the soundness of his judgment. In asking Berniece to cut the piano in half so that he can sell his half, he reveals his childish mentality. At the same time, he challenges his sister’s religious beliefs and exhorts her that she “got to believe in it all”; she “can’t go at nothing halfway.” However, he seems only interested in the passages in the Bible that support and justify his vengeful spirit. His self-righteousness is also underlined in his not wanting to listen to people who disagree with him.

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Themes: Building One's Future by Establishing a Relationship with the Past

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Themes: Reclaiming History and Identity

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