As more details are revealed about Boy Willie Charles inThe Piano Lesson, he becomes a more fascinating character. At the beginning ofThe Piano Lesson, Boy Willie and his friend Lymon arrive in Pittsburgh with a truckload of watermelon. They stay with Boy Willie’s sister, Berniece, and uncle, Doaker, while they try to sell the watermelons. However, Boy Willie’s real reason for going to Pittsburgh is to sell his family’s piano so that he can afford to buy land in Mississippi. This complicated the film’s story and has led to positivereviews forThe Piano Lesson.
The Piano Lessonisbased on the August Wilson playof the same name, andJohn David Washington perfectly plays the charismatic, scheming Boy Willie. Throughout the movie,characters inThe Piano Lesson, primarily Boy Willie and Berniece, argue over whether the piano should be sold. Throughout the many arguments, more is revealed about their history. Boy Willie, in particular, has a rich history, and it is revealed that he was arrested three years before he showed up in Pittsburgh.
Boy Willie Charles & Lyman Were In Prison For Stealing Wood & Similar Petty Crimes In Mississippi
Boy Willie And Lyman’s Theft Led To The Death Of Crawley
InThe Piano Lesson,Boy Willie and Lyman admit that they became accustomed to stealing wood and selling it for profit while working on a farm together. However, three years before the events ofThe Piano Lesson, they were caught and sent to Parchman Prison Farm. While this could’ve been a relatively minor, inconsequential detail in the story ofThe Piano Lesson, it is revealed that a man namedCrawley was killedwhen they were caught.
Berniece will never be able to view Boy Willie the same again since he was involved in the murder of Crawley.
InThe Piano Lesson, Crawley was actually Berniece’s husband and the father of Maretha. Since Boy Willie asked Crawley for help transporting the wood, Berniece blames him for the death of her husband. However,Boy Willie insists it wasn’t his fault, and argues that Crawley wouldn’t have been shot if he didn’t pull a gun on the officers. Regardless, Berniece will never be able to view Boy Willie the same again since he was involved in the murder of Crawley. The death of Crawley was likely the main reason Berniece left Mississippi for Pittsburgh inThe Piano Lesson.
Why Boy Willie Charles Returns To Mississippi (Despite Lyman Wanting To Stay In The North)
Boy Willie Wants To Buy Sutter’s Land In The Piano Lesson
Various characters inThe Piano Lessonleft the South, hoping that they could live better lives in Pennsylvania and other Northern states. Even Lyman claims that he wants to stay in Pittsburgh after traveling with Boy Willie from Mississippi. However,Boy Willie insists that he’s going back to Mississippi, since that’s where he belongs. At the end ofThe Piano Lesson, after it is decided that the piano needs to stay in their family, Boy Willie leaves and returns to Mississippi.
The Piano Lesson: Sutter & The Ghosts Of The Yellow Dog Explained
Ghosts are a key theme in Netflix’s historical drama film The Piano Lesson, acting as a source of strength and revenge for Boy Willie & Berniece.
Even though he and his entire family have a tragic past in Mississippi, Boy Willie is determined to buy the land that his family was once forced to work on. Boy Willie has a very different way of looking at race relations compared to his family members in the North. While his family members are seeking better lives in the North,Boy Willie wants to buy Sutter’s land as revenge for enslaving his ancestors. He views Sutter’s land as his family’s land inThe Piano Lesson, and his desire to right the wrongs of the past drives him throughout the movie.
The Piano Lesson
Cast
In The Piano Lesson, a brother and sister clash over selling a family heirloom piano—he sees it as a path to wealth, while she views it as a vital link to their heritage. Their uncle tries to mediate, but the conflict reveals deep truths about identity, legacy, and the past.
