The Piano Lesson Journal 6

Easily one of the most striking things that I read in Act 2 Scene 2 takes place when Berniece is preparing to take a bath and Avery walks in. After he proposes to her and she basically shoots him down they move onto the subject of the Ghosts of the Yellow Dog. Berniece seems adamant that Boy Willie killed Sutter by pushing him down the well and that's why Sutter is "haunting" their house/the piano/Boy Willie (I'd say its still unclear as to who he's haunting if anyone). However, Avery believes that The Ghosts of the Yellow Dog are the "hand of god". I think this is an interesting interpretation on murder where its almost ok to kill someone. Maybe the point of saying this is to convey a cliche'd idea of "an eye for an eye" or something similar.

Austin Schrader said...

Yea I also found this strange and wonder if its just trying to depict the differences between the two time periods culture and how they choose a spouse.