The Piano Lesson #7

In this scene, Lymon really shows his true self. He is another man looking to settle down and Berniece is a woman in need of love. This brings a new relationship into the story, as Lymon seduces Berniece. This will undoubtedly cause a large strain between Lymon and Avery, who is also looking for Berniece's hand. I think Lymon has a good chance, but the suit might be a problem by making him to cocky.

Comment on Katie-Jo's blog:
I think that what happened was that Lymon lived a life like Boy Willie (I'm sure you know what I mean) and realized that he wanted to settle down with someone he truly loved. That's why he seduced Berniece. "A Clockwork Orange" readers will understand!

The Piano Lesson #6

In Scene II of Act II, you learn that Berniece's mama had her play the piano. Her mama believed that she could hear he dead husband while Berniece played. This is believable because there are also ghosts in the story. This scene also puts emphasis on the significance of Crawley, Berniece's now dead husband. Then, Berniece specifically states, "I got Maretha playing on it" (70). This could mean that Berniece might also be hearing her husband's voice, and is getting Maretha to play like Berniece's mama got her to play.

Comment on Haley Winden's blog:
I agree, Berniece needs to move on. Her past distracts and makes her unreasonable. Avery is a nice guy and Berniece needs him. If Berniece marries him, then she'll be able to support her family better, and I'm sure she likes Avery. Berniece just needs to get over it.

The Piano Lesson #5

Something I noticed about Wining Boy is that he seems to have financial trouble. It is hinted quite a bit that Wining Boy gambles and drinks his money away. Something that supports this is the disappearance of the money bag he appeared with a while before, and also how he borrowed five dollars from Doaker, after he missed his chance to ask Berniece. Wining boy has yet to pay back Doaker, and it's interesting how he has yet to pay him back, even though he sold a suit for more than ten dollars.

Comment on Tawnie Karren's blog:
I understand why he would keep the ghost a secret because he is the one who can sympathize the most with Berniece, for he was the one who lived with Berniece for that past years, and understands that she is barely making enough money to support them.

The Piano Lesson #4

In the end of scene two, you finally learn who the ghosts of the yellow dog are and how Boy Willie and Berniece's dad trying to steal the piano. You also learn about how Berniece's husband dies. Because Berniece so strongly believes that it was Boy Willie's fault, this probably how she reasons that Boy Willie is the one pushing people down their well. This idea is helped by how Sutter's ghost seems to be calling for Boy Willie, and how Sutter conveniently died and allowed Boy Willie to be able to buy the land.

Commment on Haylee Winden's blog:
I also think that Berniece doesn't believe that people can change, which affects her trust in others. This could be harmful because she thinks that Boy Willie is pushing people down their wells, but what if he's innocent. Her bitterness clouds her judgement.

The Piano Lesson #3

In Act One, there is a great deal of singing. It seems that the singing and music brings everyone together, especially when they all know the song. When they join together singing, it gives a sense of closeness about them. The music also connects to the piano. The piano, in its own way, is significant to both their family and the Sutter family. The piano is covered in carvings of the history of the family of Boy Willie, carved by his own grandfather. It was also played by Mrs. Sutter up until she died. It holds a significance to both families.

Comment on Maegen Redfern's Blog:
I thought that phrase was interesting, too, and Boy Willie does seem to be undermining Berniece a lot. But, I think that maybe Boy WIllie might be accusing Berniece like that because maybe Berniece has believed in convenient things before. Although we learned much of their history, I think that there is more to their history than we know.

The Piano Lesson #2

In what we read today, we learn of the importance of the piano when multiple people ask to buy/sell it, but Berniece won't let it go. But, though we know that it's important, we have yet to find out why it's important. This mystery creates a sense of curiosity about the piano, and the determination of Bernice to keep the piano will probably clash with Boy Willie's determination to sell it, creating future problems.

Comment on Olivia Cordell's blog:
Although I disagree with the "like most young men are at around his age" part, Boy Willie does seem pretty selfish. It is also interesting how Berniece is rude to him, hinting about how untrustworthy he is. There is definitely a strange history behind them, and I'm curious about it.

The Piano Lesson #1

I think it is interesting that in the play, you aren't told what the setting is. But, by the accents of the characters, and the road Boy Willie and Lymon take, you can guess the general area of where they are, or at least where they are from. Also, we are not sure if they are from the north or south, and black or white. I think that the author is trying to make it so that we interpret for ourselves what kind of personalities the characters have an who they are.

Comment on Andy Rood's blog:
I like how you noticed the automobile/civil war connection. I also agree with you insight on the language of the characters. The language indicates lesser education, but raises the question "Were they allowed education?". This definitely could be pointing out the the characters are African Americans recovering from the civil war.

Cry Journal #7

I tabbed the passage where Jarvis comes and starts setting the sticks in to the earth. As he leaves, the men helping him start to say that he is "going queer" and is soon to lose all of his money. Jarvis comes to Kumalo and asks him if Absalom recieves mercy. He seems unsatisfied with the answer, and sets off to Pretoria, where Absalom is being held. I think that what Jarvis is doing is trying to step into his son's footsteps to better understand him. I think Jarvis is starting to be generous and is trying to help the native people.

I tabbed "it was still raining, but lightly, and the valley was full of sound, of streams and rivers, all red with the blood of the earth" (279) because he using this sentence once before; "the great hills stand desolate, and the earth has torn away. The lightning flashes over them, the clouds pour down upon them, the dead streams come to life, full of the red blood of the earth" (34). In the earlier quote, he uses explicit words like desolate and torn and dead to convey a foreboding tone. In the later quote, he uses lighter words. This connection tells us that there is bitterness in the earlier chapters of the book, but as the story progress, we start to see the good in others, hence the kinder tone.