The Piano Lesson Questions

Bring on the tough stuff - there’s not just one right answer.

  1. How does all the music in The Piano Lesson affect the storytelling? What does it add to the overall meaning of the play?
  2. When Boy Charles, Doaker, and Wining Boy took the piano from Sutter's house, was it theft or an act of civil disobedience? Why do you think so?
  3. Read Wilson's other Pulitzer Prize winning play, Fences. Also, make sure to check out what Shmoop has to say about it. Compare and contrast the play to The Piano Lesson.
  4. We never actually see any of the ghosts in The Piano Lesson. How do you think this affects the play?