The piano lesson by august wilson

Although set during the Great Depression, August Wilson’s The Piano Lesson depicts a variety of contemporary themes and conflicts in America, some very prevalent to this day! The central theme concerns the importance of history – understanding the historical context of the world in which we live.

As noted by The Merriam-Webster Encyclopedia of Literature, The Piano Lesson is a play “in two acts by August Wilson, produced in 1987 and published in 1990. The play, which was awarded a Pulitzer Prize in 1990, is part of Wilson’s cycle about African-American life in the 20th century. The action takes place in Pittsburgh in 1936 at the house of a family of African-Americans who have migrated from Mississippi. The conflict centers around a piano that was once traded by the family’s white master for two of the family’s ancestors. Boy Willie and Berniece, the siblings who inherit the piano (carved to show family history), argue about whether or not to sell it. Berniece’s climactic refusal to allow Boy Willie to move the piano exorcises both the literal and figurative ghost of the white slave owner who has been haunting the family.”

For your 1000 word written analysis, consider the characters Boy Willie and Berniece in light of today’s American society. In keeping with the jargon of popular culture, beam them up into today’s world! Transplant both characters into contemporary Pittsburgh (or Los Angeles for that matter), and carefully consider how each would think, feel, and act today. Which themes would be consistent? Which conflicts still prevalent? This is a “speculative” opinion essay – you will need to recreate these two characters in light of today’s world. In your analysis, include references to at least two literary theories AND add at least five (5) quotes from specific scenes, action and dialogue from the play.

Please include an introduction and conclusion. In your introduction, state your thesis on whether the play’s themes are consistent with attitudes in contemporary society. In your conclusion, I would like you to reflect on your own personal feelings/reactions to the play.

Most of your analysis should be “analysis,” so keep the quotes to a minimum!!! Your grade will be based on the thoroughness of your analysis, the strength of your quotes/examples, and your thoughtfulness and openmindedness! You may write more than the 1000 word minimum, but please keep your analysis under 2,000 words!

Good luck and enjoy!


 

Discussion Guide for The Piano Lesson

 

Characters

Doaker Charles, Boy Willie, Lymon, Berniece, Maretha

Avery Brown, Wining Boy, Grace

Conflict

Person-against-self – an internal conflict of feelings.

Person-against-person – the typical protagonist vs. antagonist scenario.

Person-against-society – the protagonist battles against the larger organizations of society
(or a system of beliefs held by society).

Person-against-nature – the protagonist is threatened by a component of nature.

Theme/Motifs/Symbols

Setting, Time & Place: 1930s – Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Memory & Historical Legacy

Ghosts

The Call to the Dead

Music

Maternal & Paternal Lines

The Mark

The Piano

Calculate Your Essay Price
(550 words)

Approximate price: $22

Calculate the price of your order

550 words
We'll send you the first draft for approval by September 11, 2018 at 10:52 AM
Total price:
$26
The price is based on these factors:
Academic level
Number of pages
Urgency
Basic features
  • Free title page and bibliography
  • Unlimited revisions
  • Plagiarism-free guarantee
  • Money-back guarantee
  • 24/7 support
On-demand options
  • Writer’s samples
  • Part-by-part delivery
  • Overnight delivery
  • Copies of used sources
  • Expert Proofreading
Paper format
  • 275 words per page
  • 12 pt Arial/Times New Roman
  • Double line spacing
  • Any citation style (APA, MLA, Chicago/Turabian, Harvard)

Our guarantees

Delivering a high-quality product at a reasonable price is not enough anymore.
That’s why we have developed 5 beneficial guarantees that will make your experience with our service enjoyable, easy, and safe.

Money-back guarantee

You have to be 100% sure of the quality of your product to give a money-back guarantee. This describes us perfectly. Make sure that this guarantee is totally transparent.

Read more

Zero-plagiarism guarantee

Each paper is composed from scratch, according to your instructions. It is then checked by our plagiarism-detection software. There is no gap where plagiarism could squeeze in.

Read more

Free-revision policy

Thanks to our free revisions, there is no way for you to be unsatisfied. We will work on your paper until you are completely happy with the result.

Read more

Privacy policy

Your email is safe, as we store it according to international data protection rules. Your bank details are secure, as we use only reliable payment systems.

Read more

Fair-cooperation guarantee

By sending us your money, you buy the service we provide. Check out our terms and conditions if you prefer business talks to be laid out in official language.

Read more