Boy Willie is arguably the most dynamic character in the play "The Piano Lesson." However, it takes almost the entire play to fully realize his potential and to get a better understanding of his motivations and reasons for his actions. Boy Willie is also a character that seems to talk a lot with nothing to say. Given the amount of talking he does, most of it is just repetitive and doesn’t add anything to the plot or to the conversation that is being had. That changes at the end where has has five monologues within the span of six pages (88-93.) I would argue to call him a sociopath, though one cannot come to that conclusion until the end of the play after learning more of Boy Willie’s past.
The first half of the play includes Boy Willie explaining his plan of “1/3’s” and getting the old Sutter farm. That’s about all he talks about for the majority of the play. He is so singular in his plan that that’s all he can think and talk about to anyone; especially his sister Berniece. He also believes whole-heartedly that his 1/3 plan will work out and that he’ll be able to both get rid of the piano and get his revenge by owning the Sutter farm; and get rid of Sutter’s ghost from Doaker’s house in the process. Boy Willie says as much, “He (Sutter) had to die to find out where that piano was at....If I was you I’d get rid of it. That’s the way to get rid of Sutter’s ghost. Get rid of that piano” (Wilson 17.)
That part also show’s Boy Willie’s concern for his family, as well as making some money off of the piano. However, that concern is quickly done away with as he continues to ramble on about his plan and how he’s got “..One part of it. Sell them watermelons and get me another part. Get Berniece to sell that piano and I’ll have the third part” (Wilson 9.)
The most drastic change to Boy Willie’s character happens at the end of the play where he, not only defends himself and his plan but also gives the reader/audience a glimpse into his past and his reasons for doing what he is doing. This is also where he contributes the most to the conversation as well as advances the plot to the climax, and reveals that he fully believes in what he is doing and that he is int he right to do what he’s been doing then entirety of the play. We find that Boy Willie has no fear of death, he killed a cat to recognize his “power” and probably admitted to killing Sutter. He changes from the beginning; a mildly annoying man-child that only talks about his plan and nothing much else to being a man who stands up for himself, defends his actions and fights a ghost.
While I agree that Boy Willie can be seen as a dynamic character, I would argue that Berniece is also a dynamic character. In the beginning, she won't even touch the piano. She seems to be holding onto it simply to spite Boy Willie, maybe as her own form of revenge against him for Crawley's death. Her ignoring the piano but still clinging to it could also be a sign of her inability to accept the past and move on. By the end of the play, she finds a healthy connection to the piano and her past. I would say she is the more dynamic character instead of Boy Willie.
ReplyDeleteHowever much I dislike Boy Willie, I have to agree with your argument that he is a dynamic character. His acceptance of a spiritual existence in the world, for instance, does spark a change in him. Compared to the boy whose loss of faith led him to kill his cat, Boy Willie at the end of the play is shaken by the spirits of the house. Fueled by his altercation with Sutter's ghost, Boy Willie can no longer deny a spiritual presence in the house or the meaning behind it. Only after regaining faith in the unknown does Boy Willie concede the piano to Berniece and acknowledge its significance.
ReplyDeleteI like your theory of Boy Willie being a sociopath. Although, I would say he is just selfish and has a one-track mind. His focus was more on revenge than the plan itself. I feel like he didn’t even think the plan through other than to become the owner of Sutter’s land. If that happens, how would he have the money to fix up the land and make it farmable? His idea was to crow crops and make use of the land, but he never said anything about how he was going to do it. His sporadic personality makes me feel as if he didn’t think that far ahead, proving that his mind is more set on the ownership of the land, and thus revenge.
ReplyDeleteI really like your post and how you explain the transition of Boy Willie. I couldn't agree with you that Boy Willie was definitely a very dynamic character to the play. Although, I also agree with Mary, that Berniece too was a dynamic character. I feel that both of these characters played off each other. Boy Willie needed Berniece and in a way Berniece needed Boy Willie. It seemed the Berniece blamed Boy Willie for a lot of the things that happened in the past. Berniece was to say the least very bitter and this could be seen through her relationship with Boy Willie.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you that Boy Willie is one of the most Dynamic characters in the play, and not until the end like you said. But I think you need to expand on the fact that for the first 80 pages he is a very flat character. Only wanting one thing. But you fail to mention that he will say whatever he thinks will get him what he wants. I think Boy Willie did not believe that ghost was real, and He only said “He (Sutter) had to die to find out where that piano was at....If I was you I’d get rid of it. That’s the way to get rid of Sutter’s ghost. Get rid of that piano”, (Wilson 17) to Berniece to try to convince her to sell her half of the Piano.
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