The Piano Lesson Spirituality Quotes

Here, Avery talks about the vision, which inspired him to become a preacher. His vision is an interesting spiritual blend. The three hobos seem to represent the Three Magi or wise men who are said to have witness Jesus birth. However, in Avery's dream they are hobos, just like the hobos that make up part of the Ghosts of the Yellow Dog. Therefore, you could say that Avery's vision blends Christianity with folk traditions.

In Avery's vision, it seems like he's being called upon to be a shepherd of sorts. He must guide the innocent sheep people though a valley full of hungry wolves. This imagery of sheep, wolves, and shepherds is prominent all through the Bible. Jesus is often described as a shepherd leading his flock. Interestingly, he's also described as a lamb, because of the Christian belief that he was sacrificed for humanity's sins (lambs were common sacrificial animals).

It seems this part of Avery's vision is alluding to the tongues of fire that the Bible says appeared above Jesus' disciple's heads after his resurrection. After this flame appeared above their heads, they set out to spread the word of Christ. In Avery's dream, the same thing happens to him. When he wakes up, he feels the call to become a preacher.

Here again we see a blend of folk beliefs and Christianity. Avery learned in his hometown church that the Ghosts of the Yellow Dog were actually a tool of God. In Avery's mind, God uses the Ghosts to punish those who deserve it. Some might see belief in ghosts to be at odds with Christianity, but for Avery the two go hand in hand.

When Berniece played the piano it allowed her mother to speak to the dead. In some ways, this makes Berniece seem almost like a priestess in the African tradition. Communicating with the dead and ancestor worship is major part of many religious traditions. For more information, check out this link.

Notice that Berniece uses the word "spirits" here, instead of ghosts. This strengthens the idea of her as a priestess. The idea of communicating with the dead was once thought of as a spiritual practice, not just hocus pocus. You could say then that in some ways Berniece is cutting herself off from her spiritual heritage by not playing the piano.

Avery believes that the power of God will banish Sutter's ghost from the house. When Berniece first suggests that he attempt this he seems hesitant. What do you think changes his mind?

We wonder what exactly Avery means by this. Does he see the spirits which inhabit the piano as not of God? A lot of preachers might think that, but he says the Ghosts of the Yellow Dog might be the "hand of God" (2.2.39). He doesn't seem to think of spirits as being demonic in anyway. Perhaps he just means that Berniece should use the power of God to help her face her own fears of playing the piano again. We think there are probably other interpretations of this line. What do you think?

For some reason, Avery isn't able to banish Sutter's ghost. We wonder what it is. Is his faith not strong enough? Is he not as connected to God as he thinks he is? Does God not want the ghost banished? Does his God not exist? The pay leaves this pretty open. What do you think?

Berniece's spirituality succeeds where Avery's fails. While his prayers to the Christian God don't succeed in getting rid of Sutter's ghost, Berniece's appeal to her ancestors does. Is the play saying that African Americans should look to their ancient African religions instead of Christianity, which was taught to them by their white slave masters? Or could you see the spirits that Berniece raises as being part of the Christian God? There are many different ways to interpret this moment. What do you think?