ADV Soph. English Journal Response 15

The Piano Lesson by August Wilson (Journal Entry 4)

Nearing the end of act one, scene two of the book, we see more heated conversations over the history of the piano that Boy Willie and Bernice supposedly owns.  The author’s attitude towards the subject is mostly indifferent and more on the informational side.  Most of the dialogue was focused solely on how the “Ghost of the Yellow Dog” correlates with the detailed account of the piano that was handed down from family to family.  Overall, much sweat and bloodshed was related after the thievery of this piano.  With this, the author tries to make us more aware of why Boy Willie is so intent on selling the piano and also why Bernice is so relentless to disagreeing with this action.  He seems to be giving us the basis of the plot which might give way to the rising action later in act two of the book.

Commented on Austin Schrader’s Blog:

Yes. The author does include information about some of the characters and their relation to the history of the piano in the latter part of Act one of the book.  This may have been done in order to prepare us to foreshadow something that might happen later with regards to the piano and more information about the “Ghosts of the Yellow Dog”.