Family In The Play 'The Piano Lesson'

In the play, “The Piano Lesson,” one of the most prominent themes is the theme of family. Family is a big part of this play, from the very first page you can tell how important family is to the Charles family. They might fight a lot but you can tell they care for each other as well. The major conflict in this play is over the piano. To me the piano represents the Charles family. It was very rare for a black family to be able to trace back their ancestry even two generations, let alone 5. People had died for this piano and that is why it was so important to the characters. The piano is what brings the Charles family together, it is a symbol of who they are and who their family used to be. This is why the piano is so important, it is a physical object that represents their past and their
I am not condoning the way slaves were treated, but by telling this story about their family, it shows the reader that you do not have to be defined by what society is telling you happened. The piano tells a story of the happiness and heartbreak the Charles family had encountered during this period. The piano helped the Charles family embrace their past, by taking the piano back they were able to take back their lives. At the end of the play, when the family and Avery are performing the exorcism, Berniece calls on the aid of her ancestors, “I want you to help me. Mama Berniece. I want you to help me. Mama Esther. I want you to help me. Papa Boy Charles.” (107) Berniece is calling on them to help ward away the evil spirit of Sutter. By doing this she is embracing her past. She is embracing how her mother used to talk to her father through the piano, she is embracing everything that has happened to the family and is asking for their help. This works, and it is the perfect way of ending the play because it really enhances the idea that family is the most important theme in this