English Essay - DUE IN 8 HRS

NB: The writing in red is the tutor’s comments. Please consider the comments and try to write the essay appropriately.

Family issues in “The Piano Lesson”: An Annotated Bibliography

August Wilson’s play “The Piano” revolves around a family that from the play has a lot of history. From the great grandfather to the feuding siblings, this family seems to attract a lot of trouble and every person finds themselves in at least one sticky situation.

These family issues are quite evident in the play and it is my intention to explore them and educate the reader on causes and also possible lessons to be taken from these. This topic is of interest to me because in some way, it relates to many families in today’s world that are plagued by problems – rivalry, deception, and more. Therefore, analyzing the families in the play will help understand issues that we all face in real life.

I intend to write a research paper that will analyze and explore extensively the family issues that exist in the play. These include sibling rivalry, deception, defiance and misfortune.

Dramatica,. 'The Piano Lesson - Analysis'. Web. 2 Aug. 2015.1 What does this source say about sibling rivalry in the play? You should use accessed through the KML databases--see the Week 5 announcement for instructions. Dramatica is not considered an academic sourc

This article by Dramatica gives an in-depth analysis of the story form of The Piano Lesson. It expounds on every structural item and theme in the play and gives the user an in-depth understanding of the goings on in the play.

Because of the in-depth study it provides, this article will be a great source for studying the sibling rivalry that is brought out in the play, which is also the biggest aspect of the play. Every other information we get from the play is a result of this rivalry.

 

Hampton, Wilborn. '"The Piano Lesson" Review: August Wilson's Ghost Story Haunts Anew'. The Huffington Post 2012. Web. 2 Aug. 2015.

This is a newspaper article review of “The Piano Lesson.” It outlines the cause for conflict between the siblings and even points out a number of scenes where they conflict. It also gives insight to the origin of the carvings on the piano and the reason they are there. In addition to that, it points out how The Piano Lesson deals with the issue of slavery and the effect it has on families.2 .This review summarizes the play but offers little real insight into the play's family issues.

This is an important source to the essay because I intend to discuss family misfortune and the review brings important aspects about this topic to mind.

Krasner, David. A Companion To Twentieth-Century American Drama. Malden, MA: Blackwell Pub., 2005. Print.

This book offers an authoritative examination of twentieth century literature works written by the best playwrights in the field. It also offers discussions that are based on cultures and ideas of American citizens.

It is an important source in the essay because it mentions issues of family drama and inheritance and also goes into detail to explain Bernice’s symbolic attachment to the piano and why she is adamant to sell it. This is what eventually gives rise to the conflict between her and Boy Willie. It also shows Bernice’s defiance in denying her past and not wanting to be associated with it. Page 328 will also be useful in formulating the conclusion of the essay.

Page, Yolanda Williams. Icons Of African American Literature. Santa Barbara, Calif.: Greenwood, 2011. Print.

In this book, Yolanda Williams studies the most popular and significant cultural topics in the history on African American literature. It includes essays that discuss the continuing importance of these topics in the American culture.

The book establishes how the piano is a link to the past and how it plays a central role in explaining the family’s history and struggle for freedom, and thus the misfortunes that have been part of the family for generations. It also explains how the carvings on the piano explain the events in the family history.

Rouleau, Andrew. 'Contemporary Literature: Gender Roles In The Piano Lesson'.Andrewrouleaucontemporaryliterature.blogspot.co.ke. N.p., 2013. Web. 2 Aug. 2015.

This blog posting explains the gender roles as brought about in The Piano Lesson. It enlightens the reader about the hidden perceptions that exist in the play – where females are given more respect than their male counterparts.3Blog postings are not considered academic sources.

This is a good source for the essay because it brings out an aspect of the play that is quite unexpected and not immediately perceived. Additionally, it mentions how Bernice called out to her female ancestors (with the exception of Papa Boy Charles) when she finally plays the piano in the last scene.4 We know this from reading the play--what other insight is offered here, other than sumary?

Van Cleave, Rachel A. 'Property Lessons In August Wilson's The Piano Lesson And The Wake Of Hurricane Katrina'. California Western Law Review 43.1 (2006): 102-104. Print.

This journal article uses property lessons from The Piano Lesson to educate its readers on the scale of loss people who suffered hurricane Katrina suffered. Apart from loss of property and life, these people also lost their communities, histories and possibly family legacies, things that threatened their very identities.

This journal explains the events surrounding the piano. From the selling of the first Bernice and her son, to the death of Boy Charles. It is a good source for explaining and enlightening the reader of how the situation culminated to what it currently is. It also carefully brings out the theme of slavery in the family, which in the essay, will be 5studied under family misfortune.