Significance of the storytelling
At the beginning of the play, Willie had a plan to steal his family’s piano. He had the intention of selling it in order to raise enough money to buy Sutter’s land. However, it was evident that Berniece could not allow it. Berniece not only valued materials inherited from the ancestors but also respected them very much. Her disregard of Willie’s intention to sell the piano portrays her motherhood character. In addition, Berniece believed in keeping her legacy for a better future. The author of the story uses Berniece’s characters to inform the reader of the essence of protecting inherited things from the ancestors. The author also used the piano story to reflect the characters of Berniece.
Darker decided to tell a story to Lymon about the history of the piano after finding out the disagreement between Willie and Berniece. His main intention was to inform Lymon on why the piano was so essential to Willie’s family. In the story, Doaker expressed his demand for the piano. He knew that he could afford to buy anything after selling it. Doaker used the piano as a focusing point of his story in order to capture the attention of Lymon. Thus, it is evident that in Doaker’s society, people valued pianos greatly. The piano was used as a symbol of unity; thus, the author of the play used the story within the play to reflect the setting of the play.
In the story, the inability of Sutter to raise enough money to purchase a piano for his love’s anniversary portrays the love he had towards his wife. Sutter could do anything in order to ensure that his wife was happy. It is evident that Sutter’s self-interest led him to sell his two aged slaves in order to raise enough money to purchase the piano. The story also explains how women were valued in Charles’ society. The narration enables the reader to find out more about the environment that appreciates women (Wilson, 113).
From the story, the reader understands that it is true that Sutter loved his wife very much. He even asked Charles’ grandfather to engrave his wife’s picture and that of their baby on the piano. Sutter thought that the carvings will both please his wife and also prevent thieves from stealing their piano. Therefore, from Sutter’s effort, it is evident that Charles’ society was full of thieves. In carving the images of the piano, Charles’ grandfather also included the images of his family members. The presence of Charles’ family images on the piano showed that many people needed a chance to control the piano. In addition, the carvings on the piano help the readers to identify the originality of the piano and easily understand the flow of the play.
The rising demand for the piano by both, Berniece and Boy Charles reflects the significance and importance of the piano to Charles’ society. They both had the urge of inheriting the piano from the old Sutter. Charles’ society adored piano and used it as a unifying factor. For instance, the carvings on the piano led to the unification of Sutter’s family with Charles’ family.
Some individuals in Charles’ society had uncouth behaviors. In the story, Doaker narrates how he plotted with Winnie Boy and stole the piano from Charles’ family. Some bandits also torched down Charles’ home leaving him and his family homeless. The uncouth acts of Doaker and society bandits are the reflection of the events that took place in Charles’ society (Wilson, 53).
Within the story, there is also the broad incarnation of the ghosts. Charles was forced to seek ghost powers after a bandit had torched down his house. The story also expounded on how Charles’ society believed in the existence of ghosts. For instance, after the death of Charles, the majority of the people believed that he became a spirit.
The culture of Charles’ society
Doaker’s narration outlines the cultural practices of Charles’ society. Individuals in Charles’ society used a piano as a unifying means. Selling of the inherited materials from the ancestors was greatly discouraged. In addition, people in Charles’ society used a piano as a symbol of love. Many people within Charles’ society worked hard in order to afford to buy a piano for an anniversary celebration.
Charles’ society was also emanated by bandits that portrayed uncouth characters. It is evident in the story that some individuals such as Willie Boy involved themselves in unworthy behaviors such as stealing. Some bandits also torched Charles’ home down.
Charles’ society had also industrious individuals. It is evident in the story that Sutter was a good farmer. He had a big land which Willie wanted to buy after selling his family’s piano. Charles’ grandfather was also a hardworking individual; he took part in carving images on the piano as recommended by Sutter.
Superstition is also a characteristic of Charles’ society. It is evident in the story that Charles believes in ghost powers after his house was torched by bandits. His death was also unusual; he was burnt on the way to the ghostland. In the narration, Charles is also said to have joined the ghosts after his death.
Works cited
Wilson, August. The piano lesson. New York: Theatre Communications Group, 2007. Print.