The Piano Lesson
What do Willy Loman and Boy Willie have in common?
If you had to take sides in this family drama, whose side would you take, Boy Willie's or Berniece's? Why?
What role do the ghosts play in this drama? Why do you think they are so prominent in this play?
Elaborate on the theme of family in this play.
posted by Elizabeth @ 10:14 AM
32 Comments:
In the Piano Lesson, I kept thinking in my head, “Thank God, I do not have a brother.” I have two sisters and we all think alike when it comes to family matters. I totally agree with Bernice. When an air loom is passed down from generation to generation, it should be loved, preserved and cherished. The air loom’s existence can be compare to the DNA that flows in the veins of family members. It tells where you belong, lets you understand where you came from and know where you are going. Many people research and research for decades to know a little bit about their family background or tree, just to understand who they are and the reason for being where they are in life. In the Piano Lesson, the whole family knows their past. Being that all of them know and understand the pass, it should be easy to move on knowing that the past will help them in future. I also believe, as a child when Bernice would play the piano, the love from the music coming out of the piano, the love that was carved on the piano, the love that was killed for the piano kept away evil spirits of the yellow dog. When Bernice stopped playing the piano, it took some time for the evil spirits to come back, because the love was being to go astray. Even though her daughter played the piano, it was not strong enough to keep the evilness away. I see the piano as a protector of the family, a protector for the past, present and future. As long as they all can love, and enjoy the piano, nothing bad can happen to them. #409
I can understand both Boy Willie's side of the argument and Bernice's. However, I personally would have to side with Bernice. Though selling the piano would have proven beneficial financially in the long run, it is also important to remember your past. A family's history can be just as rich as it's future, and it important not to let that go so easily. I can relate to Bernice, because I too have a piano that belonged to my mother. It is one of the only things I have left that belonged to her. After she passed, most of her belongings and items I treasured were refused to be by my estranges stepfather. The piano and a ring are all I have to remember her by. I would not sell these items for any amount of money. They are priceless.
It is a shame that Boy Willie saw the piano as simply a dollar sign. He did not see the true value of the piano. Unfortunately, I think that he represents most people in society. They value money more than culture or heritage. They should take a step back to understand and value their roots.
-704
when the movie first started to play my initial reaction was HOW AM I GOING TO STAY AWAKE! as the plot started to unfold i found myself very much intrigued to see who would win the battle over the paino theyboth had compelling arguements Boy Willies desire to own the land where his family was slaves for many years and Berniece's desire to keep a family heirloom that literally had her familys blood all over it and the fact that the ghost of the slave owner was actually involved in the whole plot was even more compelling to me i think when Boy Willie saw the power of the panio and the fact that money cant come between a family was the deciding factor and i would also like to mention the brief spurts of humor that kept the movie that much more better to me because a family should always no matter the circumstance bring a smile to one anothers face at least that is my opinion 718
716-If i had to take sides i think i would choose Berniece's side. As a sister that has an older brother i understand that most likely we are not going to agree on some things. when it comes to family i dont think there is a price. The fact that boy willie tried to take something that held so much emotional connection and history to their family and sell it to buy land from the same man you at one point owned his family is beyond me. i understand that Berniece wont sell the piano because of what is means, the significance, and ties it still hold in their family. to sell it would be to bury their families history, all they had to go through, the significance of to the father carving their history into it, their mothers sweat and blood going into it and make it seem like it never happened. although i understand that boy willie wanted to own land of his own for him as well as his father by selling the family piano i believe that that would be like selling his soul just for a piece of dirt, which i feel is very wrong.
It is hard to take sides in family matters. The fact is that every side is a loosing side in the circumstance of a family feud. So what would I do in this situation. First, if my brother acted like Boy Willie and showed up hooting and hollering with out an invitation and any warning I would have pulled the gun on him far sooner to teach him a lesson. Secondly, Bernice needs some therapy and a boyfriend. And not the fake wanna-be priest who is just begging because it would look better for him to be married, come on, that guy needs to come out of the closet. In my family everything is split evenly. My parents treat us evenly give us the same, down to the cent. While I think that my father takes it a bit far the concept is right. What is past down from the parents should be split evenly. If Boy Willy wants to sell the piano and Bernice does not then he should sell her the share that belongs to him. Of course there is the question of, how do you place a price on something that is priceless? The bigger question that I have that nobody seems to be asking is why does Boy Willie want this land so bad? First of all does he know how to farm? Who will help him farm the land? 20 acres is a lot of dirt. But most importantly, why would you want to buy this land? Why Sutters land? Why not some other land? It does not sound like he has looked into what is available and what is the most affordable option. Personally I don't think that it is a well though out plan. It seems to me that deep down Boy Willy is trying to right the past by buying back that land that enslaved his family and work it under his own name. But does that really undo what has been done? If Boy Willy needs to heal from the hurt of the past he has to do the hardest thing - to forgive.
#708.
I liked this a lot. This movie touched on a lot of things. Slavery, poverty, greed, the want of wealth, and most importantly family. I personally agreed with Berniece. I feel that her argument was strong, and you could not only feel her feelings and sentimental values... you felt them.I don't think that Boy Willie actually cared about the piano. He shows up out of the blue...first just to sell watermelon, then it came out to sell the piano. I believe that his Daddy would want him to have land, but I think land that he worked hard for. Not just make an easy swap. In the movie where he looks at his hands and he says something to the affect of My Daddy would want me to do something with these hands. I feel like at his age he would have already tried to work toward something. He was a grown man, unstable, with schemes up his sleeve(speaking of the past jobs he spoke about, and taking money off the top). Also the fact that he didn't care about what his sister thought or felt. They hadn't come to any agreement and he still tried to get the piano out of the house. It just made me feel like he didn't care about the piano, the history of it, never thinking about his mother that cherished it. He got a deal...and the piano was his fast break. I loved the ending...the way the music brought them back together. -714
while both berniece and boy willie had very differnet reasons for wanting the piano it doesnt make one better than the other, so i think it is unfair to be too harsh on boy willie. he looked at the piano as his family's ticket to a better life. he viewed it as a piece of wood whose sale would memorialize the bravery of his father and perhaps finish what his father was trying to do in the first place.
Berniece looked at it as an hierloom that should be cherished and felt that boy willie didnt rever it as it should have been, but she didnt either. she would never play it and would not share its history with her daughter. both of the siblings were not using the piano for what it should have been used for.
in the end the resolution was perfect. boy willie came to finally appreciate it and berniece no longer fears the piano. great story! #724
While watching "The Piano Lesson", I kept going back and forth as to who deserved the piano the most. At first, I was on Berniece's side, but after hearing Boy Willie's explanation, I was on his side. I was happy that the "ghosts" made the decision for them. But then i realized that the movie wasn't really about the piano at all.
I don't believe that the "ghost" in the movie was Sutter. I believe the ghost was Berniece's past. The piano and the history behind it has haunted Berniece for a long time. It ended up killing her father, but it also left her mother all by herself, which is exactly what happened to Bernice. Her husband did something foolish, just like her father, and ended up dead, and she is now all alone.
When Bernice finally ended up playing the piano at the end of the movie to basically "win" the piano war, it was her releasing the ghosts of her past. By playing it and breaking down like she did, she released herself from the pain and anger she was holding in. I think Bernice wanted to keep the piano b/c it let her be the sad/angry person she was, and she wasn't ready to move on. Her brother's visit forced her to, and that is what i think she was angry about all along.
I really enjoyed this play. I sometimes get bored during plays but this one got my attention ALL the way though. The family struggles and heartbreaks made me feel sadness. I can see and understand both Berenices and Boy Wille's point of view on the piano. Honesty I would not do either of the options presented in the play. I wouldn't want to kept the piano because it had caused so many problems in the family history. Each generation is ripped apart by that piano. However I wouldn't want to sell it because there are cravings of family members in the wood. I wouldn't want another family to have it. So I would gather the family together and I would burn the piano. It would be a freedom gathering, and a memorial service in memory of the loved ones lost. I would free my descendants from the burden placed upon the family.
811
The piano lesson is a great example about how every person is unique in their own values and meanings in life.
I must say I would have to agree with Berniece and the significance of the piano. I don't think that I would be able to part with it either unless it was a life threatening situation that the money was needed for. The piano has too much life and history. I felt like boy Willy was being extremely selfish in what he wanted the piano for. I mean if he really wanted to buy the land he should have been working extra hard to earn the money so that he could buy it on his own for himself!
I believe that in life you have to work hard for things that you want. Nothing is easy or handed to you but if you work hard to get it the ending result is that much more meaningful.
-809
To me this particular play was a perfect example of real meaning vs. materialism. boy willies intentions of selling the piano was aimed at some personal sense of vendetta. His disregard for the importance of the piano to his family was foolish. objects that carry important family history are to be cherished for their significance. The piano it self was still being used by the little girl, of which she played often. Boy willies failure to see the affect the piano had on her life was disappointing and narrow minded. In all seriousness, boy willie is the person who needed to let go of the past, not bernice. He was attempting to exact some strange vengeance for his deceased father that was created mostly out of his mind. what he failed to realize is that the land and the farm was irrelevant to the family, but the carvings upon the piano, and the instrument itself where what held them together and generated happiness and harmony in a household haunted by misfortune and death. The rest of his family seemed to have moved on to better things, while boy willie remained fixated on the negative aspects of the families past. this is why boy willie was subsequently 'attacked' by the ghost. he was generating negativity and strife. this is why i believe the author had the ghost linked to boy willie in dialogue as often as he did. The story was resolved after he stopped forcing his will upon the people closest to him, a lesson many people fail to realize, which only creates unnecessary conflict in life. the moral of the story: 'dont force things on other people, it only generates bad karma.'
806
this film, although simply constructed, was done so in a very nice manner and in a way that put emphasis on the right things, such as family values, haunted pasts and social assimilation. I enjoyed the interaction of the distinct characters. It is difficult for me to side with either Bernice or Boy Willy, because of my observational stance, but it was made easy for me to understand both extremes of the view of the old, carved piano that holds much intrinsic value to Bernice. Boy Willy seemed very stubborn in his ways, and maybe devoted to much effort to obtaining the piano (even going as far as building a prop to roll the heavy piece out of the house)instead of focusing on selling his watermelons and/or thinking of a more viable solution to his lack of money for land. Bernice on the other hand surely acted stubbon, but she was the one that had something to lose. She was the one who had the worst disturbance from a haunted past, so it is easy to see why she would be so stern in her ways. The piano, even though she didn't play it, comforted her in some way. The ghosts in the story(or bad past experience)were very important to the plot in that they provided a nice unknown, so to speak, and a good conflict for all characters. The theme of family and moral values was prominent and added much to the film because ultimately it was the family that was together when they all overcame each of their problems and allowed one another to move on.
-813
I love both of these characters because ironically I can somewhat relate to both of them because of how passionate they are to have success. These are to gentleman who have worked hard all their lives and they are longing for the moment of satisfaction that will result after their successful accomplishments. Both gentleman have edured financial distress and family drama but they are still hopeful that their financial woes will be over soon. Ironically both chararcters are irational in their decision making when it comes to making money and even extreme when it comes to their family relationships reguading money. Both men are in extreme denial and are willing to risk their family relationships just to finally make ends meet. It is the case of lost dreams and a hurtful past that has caused a dysfuctional family and money issues only makes matters worse.
I would be on the side of Bernice in "The Piano Lesson". Family history and heirlooms can never be compromised for any dollar amount. They are representations of personal history and experiences that money will only lose because it is temporary and meaningless. I would treat Boy Willy the same way Bernice did especially after the struggles in their family history it would only be disrespectful to use money as collateral for one's person's view happiness which is aleady tainted.
The ghost's in both of the places symbolize the trama is each of their lives, their personal fears, and buried pain from their past.
Both families were dysfunctional each having buried serious matters that have been to intense to deal with, which have obviously affected them in the present. These plays are the struggle of the American dream through prejudice, each protagonist has a huge stuggle with the reality of their present sitations and they are still chasing dreams that they have dreamed of having. I believe all audiences can relate to each play with their own personal family quarrels...In the end their is always some signifigant character that loves the troubled & rebellious character when everyone has turned their backs toward them. It is a familiar story that hits home for even me...
Number 823 Zephir
When Boy Willie & Berniece argued over the piano i thought & said well this is what a lot siblings with things that are passed down from their parents. My favorite part was the music would come into play to sooth the negative energy in the room. The carvings in the piano are we done i never seen a piano look that way before. My second favorite part of the movie was when the preacher Avery was trying to chase the ghost out of the house. The ghost started to fight Boy Willie, then Berniece was looking at her family on the piano asking for help saying "why won't you help me?" she starts playing on the piano. That scene was one of favorite so much emotion.
05.02.09
#820
I thought this was a good story. The characters were interesting and complemented each other. The argument between Boy Willie & Berniece is something that many families have had, who's going to keep the priceless family item. I think Berniece had the upper hand in the argument, the piano was in the family for generations and had their blood in it. It is the symbol of how their family was separated and where they came from. I think although Boy Willie wanted to sell this particular item he had a good reason for wanting it. I wouldn't have let him have it though, considering it's history. He should have had enough love for his heritage not to want to sell even to own his own land, he was taking the easy way out.
I liked the ghosts in the story acting as the past still haunting them. They are both unseen forces that were tangible, but are now not. It played an important part in having something to overcome and realize what's important, family.
~818
It was very hard for me to take a side while watching this film. I tried to put myself into the place of both characters and decide what i would do in each of their places. On the one side, boy willie was rightfully entitled to one half of that piano that he was not getting any use of at all. On the other side, sentimental value is worth much more that a portion of the piano's cost. Even so, I honestly would have to take boy willie's side. It was rightfully his, too, and i'm sure he would like something to remind him of what his father fought for that he could look at each day as well. Making a better life for yourself because of what a family member left you is nice, and hopefully bernice could do the same.
As for ghosts, i'd like to think it was purely metaphorical. I don't believe in ghosts, so i took is more as the memory of the deceased and the guilt plaguing the characters after their death.
823
I find both boy willie and berneice, developed a fairly good argument. At first I felt that berneice had a better reason, because it has her house, plus it was something that had sentimental value to her. Being a widowed housewife, practically taking the role of both a father and mother, I felt that she deserved to keep it. However, while watching Boy Willie brings the fact that he is doing it for the family, and had intentions of giving her half the money. Even though acting selfish, you get more clues of how Boy Willie was doing the wrong thing for the right reasons. It's hard to say who is right, but sometimes people do need to put the past behind them. The only thing that confused me is that maretha hadn't a say of how she felt. Playing the piano could have been important to her, not to mention she was also interested in learning. As a musician myself, to have my guitar tooken from me would very upsetting.
814
The piano lesson was both funny and sad at times. I enjoyed it. Boy Willie was a piece of work. He was very selfish. Berniece was still in a lot of pain. You can't expect her to just want to sell the piano when it had so much sentimental value to her. Lymon was a good hearted person, but I think he should become more of a leader. It seems like he'll do anything Boy Willie wants him to. I think Lymon and Berniece would make a great couple. Avery wasn't her type. Even though he's a good person, Berneice was only really interested in him as a friend. Doaker Charles was like a peacemaker. He had to make sure everyone stayed level-headed. With his wisdom and compassion, everyone put their trust and confided in him. Wining Boy was the one who enstilled hope and joy in everyone with his music and free-spirited nature. Even though his wife passed, he still was able to find joy, even if it was after getting drunk. I think the so-called ghosts acted as a medium to bring everyone closer in the long run. It also tied the past to the present, giving this family's history so much meaning.
#115
The family's ancestry plays a very large role in this story. Throughout the story, Boy Willie and Bernice are both concerned (or both claim to be concerned) about what their ancestors would have wanted. The lesson in the piano is that while the past has great impact on the present (we see this in the story in the ghosts and stories that appear throughout), it is the responsibility of those living in the present to use the past for their benefit and the benefit of future generations. Rather than becoming too concerned with the opinions of ancestors, the living must take into consideration the best way to examine the past and grow from it, using all those things the past has given them--both material and mental/spiritual--to arrive at a peace that may not have been the privilege of earlier generations to experience.
Also advertises the importance of compromise and taking into consideration the thoughts and feelings of others before taking action.
121
To be truthful, this movie was actually pretty annoying to me. I feel like both Boy Willie and Bernice had equally valid reasons for why they should've kept the piano and for why the other shouldn't have it. From the sound of things there was no legal will that gave the piano to either sibling so the fact that it was in Bernice's home should've been a deal breaker. I felt like whatever she felt should be done with the piano was what should've been done- period. If she was really having so many problems with Boy Willie then she should've just called the cops on him. I understand that the piano was something Bernice was using to physically hold on to her past and that Boy Willie saw as a promise to a better future, but all in all I just couldn't get over the feeling that I was watching a movie about two siblings fighting over a piano. At least there was some good music.
117
The Piano Lesson tells a tail of disruptive family, disruptive in the sense that they may have different lifestyles, personalities, and views on beliefs, yet they still care about each other deep down.
Berniece proves this when even tho, she feels a type of way about the death of her husband and the connection that her brother has to it, she still lets him stay in the same house as she is in.
Her brother, Boy Willie is the same, as he could have taken the piano, as it was half of his, from the house, but he didn't.
This is because no matter how much disruption has happen between them, they are still family and they knew that. Family means everything, because it is all that you got, and sometimes you have to go through some trying times with family, but they are all that you have.
--103
Classic story of a family dispute over something of value in both money and family heritage. I wasn't really fond of this movie much. I thought most of the characters were pretty annoying to listen to. Both Bernice and Boy willy had good points of argument for keeping the piano, however I think Boy Willy's argument was just a bit more concrete. He had a chance to make future profit for him and the whole family, plus he was correct in saying no one even used the piano much. Also, that ending was really silly in my eyes. Watching Bernice bang away at the piano like a crazy person honestly made me want to leave the room it was so annoying. Not my cup of tea.
-101
I would take Bernice's side in this dispute. The piano is important to her. It has had a place in her home for many years, and it is a reminder to her of her roots. Her ancestor carved the beautiful figures on the piano with his own to hands, and made it a labor of his love. Boy Willie's approach to the whole conversation was lacking in reason and rationality. He just wanted the piano to sell it. He does not seem to appreciate the history of the instrument like his sister does. If he wanted to buy land so badly, he should have been working hard and saving his whole life for an opportunity to present itself. 120
If I had to take sides in this story I would choose Bernice's. I get nostalgic about family things and try to hang onto them. It is a history that can't be replaced. I am glad when Bernice finally comes to terms with her demons and once again enjoys the piano with spiritual playing. It is also nice when the child gets to learn on the same piano as her ancestors did. I can somewhat see Boy Willie's point. Owning land is a great accomplishment but the piano can't be replaced and if he wants that land he will find another way to get it.118
This play was great. I enjoyed every minute of it and the concept was amazing. I was certainly on Berinice's side when it came to who should get the piano. It had a great sentimental meaning to Bernice, Boy Willie and the whole family. The piano had a great history which told the lives of their ancestors. Boy Willie was being selfish in a way, but i understood his logic on why he wanted it. Thank god for the ghost because that is what brought the family back together. The ghost certainly made Bernice and Boy Willie bond again. IF it were not for the ghost they would probably still hate each other.
28
The Piano Lesson was a good movie, I loved the way they showed two points of view as to why the family should keep or sell the piano. However, Boy Willie takes a lot of heat for his care free spirit and silly comments. He made good points as to why he thought the piano should be sold, although do feel that he was still selfish. I don’t understand why he couldn’t save his own money to buy a land, that way everyone would be happy.
010
This was a very powerful movie. If i would have to take sides it would have to be the side of Berniece. The piano has been in the family for a long time and there's no price you can put on that. I think boy Willy was wrong for trying to just take it and sell if from her.017
When watching The Piano Lesson IWW pretty annoyed with Boy Willy. He's was so self absorbed in buying Sutter's land that he didn't even take the time to consider why the piano ment so much to Berniece. To me that inexcusable, in my family,family is always number one. I think my favorite character was Doaker. He was the civilized voice during the entire movie. He was trying to keep the peace but was on Berniexe's side the whole time.
008
this movie was very emotional, just like death of a salesman. i would definatly have to side with berniece. the piano had been around long time and it sentimental value, and you can't put a price on something like that. i think he shouldn't have tried to sell it. it was very selfish
004
I think that when a person attach themselves to material things is because it really means something to them. The brother have no right to come into Bernice's home to take the piano for sale. This piano had their family's history carved into it, and for Bernice this was more valuable than money.
-020
I liked this play but the end threw me off. I thought it was funny the way they did it. It was suppose to be scary but I found myself laughing about the ghosts. I think Boy Willie is selfish and towards the end he started to realize he wasn't going to get to sell the piano for the land.
119
I have mix feeling about this story I don't know if to like it or hate it. I can see boy Willi's need to sell the piano. He needed to buy that land to prove to himself that he was free and he deserved respect from others specially white people. I don't think he wanted to sell the piano in particular, I think he neede the money and that was the only valueable piece he owned. I didn't really understood the gost, I think the main story was the family conflict and how they overcame it.
120
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