Piano Lesson Symbolism

August Wilson’s use of symbolism is an important and effective method of storytelling in The Piano Lesson. Symbolism is a technique used by writers to associate one object or idea with another. This technique is essential in The Piano Lesson due to the small-scale, rural environment in which the story is told. Important thoughts and ideas that Wilson is trying to portray about African-American society could never be expressed without symbolism, due to this small setting. There are many examples of symbolism in The Piano Lesson, but one can get a good idea of the importance of this technique by exploring some of the more prevalent ones. The most recognizable symbol throughout the story is the piano that the family owns. Another important symbol is the “magic” suit that Wining Boy supplies Lymon with. Next, we can examine the character of Boy Willie, a person whom represents an attitude that transcends over time. Finally, we can look at the character of Avery, a man meant to represent yet another specific attitude. Through these symbols (and many others,) Wilson is able to tell his story more effectively.

The piano itself is the most important symbol throughout the entire story. This piano has multiple purposes throughout its history, the first being its acting as a symbol of the low value attributed to a slave. Doaker says “so he asked Mr. Nolander to see if maybe he could trade off some of his niggers for that piano,” (42) which basically shows what little value was placed on a slave. Sutter “ain’t had no money” (42) as Doaker acknowledges, “but he had some niggers.” (42) The piano itself has become a symbol for what little value the slaves hold now. These slaves are now being treated as dollar amounts, as parts that are interchangeable for an object. These slaves are used to “buy” the piano from Mr. Nolander.

Eventually, the piano is in the hands of this family that the story revolves around. This piano has become a symbol for the history of the family, and represents an attempt to keep this family together. The piano has carvings of family members all over it, as Doaker mentions “that’s my grandmother, Berniece. She looked just like that. And he put a picture of my daddy when he wasn’t nothing but a little boy the way he remembered him.” (44) The piano is a symbol of the family because it is literally covered with this history. Doaker states that Boy Charles “say it was the story of our whole family and as long as Sutter had it . . . he had us” (45) Under normal circumstances, a piano would not be something valuable enough to risk your life in order to steal. However, it is clear that Boy Charles viewed it as an important family heirloom, a symbol of their family history. By stealing the piano, he hopes to end the control that Sutter has over them.

We see in the story that the ghost of Sutter is still haunting the family, through the piano. At the same time the piano is a symbol of family history, it is also a link to the slavery that the family had to endure. It is only through playing the piano, not through some christian exorcism, nor by physically fighting Sutter that they are able to drive off the ghost of Sutter. Boy Willie says “Hey Berniece… if you and Maretha don’t keep playing on that piano… ain’t no telling… me and Sutter both liable to be back.” (108) By continuing to play the piano, Berniece and her daughter can continue to keep these dark links to their past away. Just like Mama Ola tendered the piano and taught Berniece about it, Berniece can teach Maretha about the importance of preserving this family history. The piano is a very important symbol here for allowing the family to preserve their history.

Another important symbol in The Piano Lesson is the “magic” suit that Lymon wears when he and Boy Willie go out on their “night on the town.” Wining Boys tries to make some money by selling Lymon a suit, mentioning that “That’s a fifty-five dollar suit. That’s the kind of suit the bigshots wear… The women will fall out their windows they see you in a suit like that… go on and wear it down the street and get you a woman.” (60) Wining Boy is explaining that if Lymon wears this suit, it will transform him from the country low-life to the big shot city gentleman that all the ladies are after. The suit itself symbolizes a maturation process in Lymon, a character that really doesn’t much class or importance for that matter up until this point in the story. Basically, Lymon has transformed himself into a northern boy, something that Wining Boy notes by stating “That’s the kind of suit you need for up here in the north.” (61)

By using such a simple transformation, Wilson is basically showing us the kind of attitude that existed during this time period. All it really takes for someone to become a northern boy is to put on some kind of suit that