Family Legacy in the Piano Term Paper

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Boy Willie's father, Boy Charles, set out to steal the piano with pictures of his family carved by his father, to return it to the rightful owners. As far as Boy Charles was concerned, the piano "was the story of [their] whole family and as long as Sutter had it . . . he had [them]," (Wilson, 1990, p. 45). Similarly, Boy Willie wishes to sell the family piano in order to receive something far more valuable to him -- Sutter's land -- in a move which would symbolically avenge the slavery his family endured under Sutter in the past. Boy Willie's impetuousness to this end and defiance of anyone to stand in his way, along with his fierce ambition to avenge his family's traumatic past allows him to carry on a legacy begun by his father.

Even if Berniece and Boy Willie were not so adamant about manifesting the influence of their parents, the presence of ghosts throughout the story would refuse the family history to fade. The greatest spiritual presence felt in the play is that of Sutter's ghost, who haunts the Charles' house as a constant reminder of his influence, his control over them, in life. The Ghosts of the Yellow Dog are mentioned periodically, but are most notable for their role in eliminating Sutter's living presence from the Charles' family when they are credited with pushing Sutter into his own well, leading to his death (Wilson, 1990, p.

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5). These two specters have the most physical manifestations in the play, but there are also constant mentions of Mama Ola and Cleotha's spirits being not far off, even more reminders of the family's past and an enduring legacy not to be forgotten.

Throughout the play the characters reminisce about past history and the family legacy. The fight for the greatest family heirloom allows this legacy to be brought to life, and the similarities of the children to their parents and the seen and unseen presence of spirits connected to the family's past allow that legacy to endure throughout….....

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