August Wilson titles his play, “The Piano Lesson”, however, the play has nothing to do with piano lessons at all. The lesson learned in this play is one of African American history. Wilson gives his audience a profound look at the past and how it influences the present. The basic theme of the play is universal for both blacks and whites on how the past can burden the present. However, Wilson puts an interesting twist …showed first 75 words of 745 total…

…showed last 75 words of 745 total…it is not to forget it. Berniece Charles reconnects with her ancestors when she begins to play the piano again. Boy Willie reminds Berniece at the end of the play to continue playing the piano and warns her what will happen if she chooses to neglect her past again. “Hey Berniece…if you and Maretha don’t keep playing on that piano…ain’t no telling…me and Sutter both liable to come back” (Wilson 108).