What do the Ghosts symbolize in The Piano Lesson?

The ghost is a product of the characters' imagination. The ghost symbolizes oppression.

thoughtco.com - The Piano Lesson"" Themes - Sutter's Ghost - ThoughtCo

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Supernatural themes lurk throughout August Wilson's drama, The Piano Lesson. But to fully understand the function of the ghost character in The Piano Lesson, readers may want to become familiar with the plot and characters of The Piano Lesson.

Sutter's Ghost

During the play, several characters see the ghost of Mr. Sutter, the man who probably murdered the father of Berniece and Boy Willie. Sutter was also the legal owner of the piano.

There are different ways of interpreting the ghost:

The ghost is a product of the characters' imagination.

The ghost symbolizes oppression.

Or it is an actual ghost!

Assuming the ghost is real and not symbolism, the next question is: What does the ghost want? Revenge? (Berniece believes that her brother pushed Sutter down a well). Forgiveness? (This doesn't seem likely since Sutter's ghost is antagonistic rather than repentant). It may simply be that Sutter's ghost wants the piano. In Toni Morrison's beautiful foreword to the 2007 publication of The Piano Lesson, she states: "Even a threatening ghost hovering in any room it chooses pales before the gripping fear of what is outside - the steady, casual intimacy with imprisonment and violent death." She also observes that "Against years of menace and routine violence, wrestling with a ghost is mere play." Morrison's analysis is spot on. During the play's climax, Boy Willie enthusiastically battles the ghosts, running up the stairs, tumbling down again, only to go charging back up. Grappling with the specter is sport in comparison to the hazards of the oppressive 1940s society.

Spirits of the Family

Berniece's suitor, Avery, is a religious man. In order to disconnect the ghost's ties to the piano, Avery agrees to bless Berniece's house. When Avery, an up-and-coming reverend, passionately recites passages from the Bible, the ghost does not budge. In fact, the ghost becomes even more aggressive, and this is when Boy Willie finally witnesses the ghost and their battle begins. In the middle of The Piano Lesson's chaotic final scene, Berniece has an epiphany. She realizes that she must call on the spirits of her mother, father, and grandparents. She sits down at the piano and, for the first time in a year, she plays. She sings for the spirits of her family to help her. As her music becomes more powerful, more insistent, the ghost goes away, the battle upstairs ceases, and even her stubborn brother has a change of heart. Throughout the play, Boy Willie demanded that he sell the piano. But once he hears his sister play the piano and sing to her deceased relatives, he understands that the musical heirloom is meant to stay with his Berniece and her daughter. By embracing music once again, Berniece and Boy Willie now appreciate the piano's purpose, one that is both familiar and divine.

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Who is considered the greatest composer for piano?

Perhaps the most iconic piano composer is Ludwig van Beethoven. His ninth symphony contains some of the most recognizable melodies and has been featured in such films as “A Clockwork Orange” and “Immortal Beloved.” Johann Sebastian Bach is another one of the most famous piano composers of all time.

ranker.com - The 50+ Best Piano Composers Ever, Ranked - Ranker

These are the greatest piano composers, ranked from best to worst by Classical music fans. When it comes to the best piano composers, their backgrounds and upbringing is as varied as their music. That's the special thing about music more than any other art form. Where you come from plays such an important role in the art you create, and that's what makes lists like this so interesting. Putting together great talents from all over the world, from all different eras. Some of the more famous piano composers on this list gained popularity during the Renaissance while other good piano composers wrote music during the Romantic period and beyond. A few of the people on here even wrote jazz and ragtime music that is still popular today. So, Who is on this list? Perhaps the most iconic piano composer is Ludwig van Beethoven. His ninth symphony contains some of the most recognizable melodies and has been featured in such films as “A Clockwork Orange” and “Immortal Beloved.” Johann Sebastian Bach is another one of the most famous piano composers of all time. More recently, Duke Ellington treated music fans to such hits as “Satin Doll” and “Don't Get Around Much Anymore.” Other musicians who are featured on this top piano composers list include Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Franz Schubert and Frederic Chopin. Who are the best piano composers? Vote for your favorite piano composers of all time below!

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