Essay On Berniece's Legacy

From the moment we enter the world until the moment we die, each and every one of us carries a legacy. Whether we like it or not, the lessons learned and labels worn by our ancestors are passed down to us. Although the legacies of our ancestors do not define us, our reactions and what we choose to do with these legacies do have a large impact on our lives. Some people choose to honor their legacy, some try to forget their legacy, and others make an effort to either erase or change their legacy. In August Wilson’s The Piano Lesson, Berniece struggles to accept her ancestors past and come to terms with her legacy.
Berniece spends most of the play trying to forget her family’s past. Being the descendant of a slave, Berniece is well aware of the hardships her ancestors faced. Berniece knows she is related to slaves and as a result, sees herself as a lesser valued member of society. Berniece believes that “colored folks is living at the bottom life” (1291). On multiple occasions, Berniece talks about race and the role colored people play in society. One part of this play I found extremely ironic was the fact that Berniece tried to ignore her legacy, yet she was
As a young girl, Berniece’s father was killed as a result of trying to save the piano. After her father’s death, Berniece’s mother could often hear her husband’s voice whenever Berniece played the piano. As a result, Berniece’s mother pushed Berniece to continue playing the piano, so that she could communicate with her husband. Eventually Berniece stopped playing the piano because “[she didn’t] want to wake them spirits” (1279). Although Berniece refuses to tell her daughter, Maretha, about their family’s past and ties to slavery, she continues to keep the piano around. Berniece refuses to sell the piano that serves as a reminder of her family’s painful