Literary Analysis: The Piano Lesson
Literary Analysis: The Piano Lesson
Many plays have passed the audience’s eyes with no recognition. There are some plays which most people do not remember. There are plays about cats, dogs and most anything one can think up. There are also plays which try to send a hidden meaning to the audience. There are plays which are covers for a real purpose of wasting an audiences time. More importantly, there are good plays.
As the 1990 winner of the Pulitzer Prize, The Piano Lesson, by August Wilson, stands out as one of the greatest plays of the 20th century. August Wilson uses many tricks and techniques in order to keep the audience’s attention and to appeal to the average man. The Piano Lesson contains qualities of mystery plays, thrillers, emotional dramas, and comedies. “WONDERFUL…SEAT-EDGINGLY THEATRICAL, THRILLINGLY DRAMATIC, EXTRAORDINARILY FUNNY….” (Barnes, 5) The Piano Lesson also takes use of the meticulous characterization of roles in the play.
It begins in the little how town of Pittsburgh. Immediately, Wilson gets the audiences attention with an unexpected visitor.
“Boy Willie: (Off stage, calling.) Hey Doaker…Doaker!
(He knocks again and calls.)
(Doaker enters from his room. He is a tall, thin man of forty-seven, with severe features, who has for all intents and purposes retired from the world though he works full-time as a railroad cook.)
Doaker: Who is it?
Boy Willie: Open the door, n*****! It’s me…Boy Willie!
Doaker: Who?
Boy Willie: Boy Willie! Open the door!” (Wilson, 1)
This opening gets the audience into the craze of asking “what’s happening?” This ability to put the viewers at a state of constant mystery is one technique used to keep the audience from getting bored.
This play keeps the audience on the edge of their seats with questions. Who killed Sutter? Where is the piano from? Why is the piano so important? Why is Berniece so attached to the piano? This ‘mystery drama’ technique not only serves as an attention grabber, it allows the audience to get hooked on the play.
Mystery dramas have learned to use this technique for many years. The mystery drama was around before Sherlock Holmes, all the way to present day. One advantage of the mystery drama is that it applies to everyone:...