The Piano Lesson

"The Piano Lesson", takes place during the time when blacks were considered property and "lesser" than whites. This play indirectly deals with the lack of confidence and shame that went along with the mistreatment and ownership the blacks endured from the whites. This racial tension caused problems among the family members and their relationship. Boy Willie and his sister Bernice, both dealt with their self-esteem  in different manners. Boy Willie was hard headed and hated the idea of feeling inferior to any white man. His egotistical ways clashed with Bernice's submissive personality. In one of Boy Willie's rants he tells Bernice that fear of death is a sign of weakness in the white slave owner's eyes. He further explains that after witnessing the death of his puppy and killing a cat, he has overcome the fear of death and can stand up to look any white man in the eyes. Unlike Boy Willie, Bernice wants to accept the "truth" that she and her daughter are living at the "bottom of life." The Piano signifies Bernice's losses and her inability to move on. In the very end of the play when Bernice is forced to play the piano to get rid of Sutter's ghost, a clam comes over the whole house. To me, this marks the end to Bernice's unhappiness and possibly the end to slavery altogether. 

In my opinion, This play would be more empowering if it were acted out. Although the reader got to know the characters pretty well just by reading it, seeing the play would enable the viewer to fully connect with the mood of the actors and the impact of both their words and songs.