the piano lessonIn Act 1 of The Piano Lesson, by August Wilson, the main conflict is introduced. A family heirloom piano is in the middle of an argument of being sold. Boy Willie wants to sell the piano and buy back the land his ancestors worked as slaves on. Berniece does not want to part with the piano that reminds her of her late husband. The history of the piano is shared with us and shows why the piano is so important. This play shows us what life was like for an African American living in Pittsburgh, and the south, during the 1930’s and the struggle to become self sufficient.
In the beginning of the play, Boy Willie knocks on the door of his Uncle Doaker. Willie has come from Mississippi to sell watermelons in a rickety truck with his friend Lymon. Willie has come from the Parchman Prison Farm to tell his sister, Berniece, that the Ghost of the Yellow Dog has killed Sutter. Sutter was the family that owned their ancestors during slavery. Willie then explains how he wishes to sell the piano and the watermelons to turn a profit and by the land from Sutter’s brother. Boy Willie is really set on starting his own farm even though he is being ripped off. Berniece then sees Sutter’s ghost and Willie explains that he is after the piano. Willie explains his plan to Berniece about selling the piano and Berniece shuts Boy Willie down right away. Berniece’s daughter, Maretha, is being taught piano lessons on it. After a while, Doaker explains the history of the piano to Boy Willie. A long time ago, Sutter’s grandfather wanted to get a present for his wife. He sold two slaves for the piano. His wife liked the piano, but she missed the slaves. The former owner of the piano would not trade back. Sutter then had a slave named Willie Boy carve his family into it. Willie Boy, however, carved his mother, father, and scenes from his family’s history into it. Sutter did not like it but his wife did, and she played the piano until the day she died. Doaker and Winning Boy...