Crucible

The word crucible is defined as a severe search or trial. Arthur Miller uses this word to title the play because it was based upon the accusattions made of those who did witchcraft. Many characters were accused and therefore they were sent to go to court in order to confess if they had something to do with witchcraft. In my opinion, I thought that the title was well chosen in which it grabs the attention of the audience before reading the book.

Memories

Memories help us shape our future in which the moments that we treasure lasts forever in a beautiful remembrance. At times these memories can be painful depending on the situtaion but others fill our life with joy and happiness. Some of those memories include my Quincenera, high school graduation, and college freshman.

October 15, 2004, was expected to be the most beautiful memory that I had to remember. This day happened to be my Quincenera. I remember that I would always start counting the days for that special day to arrive. When this day finally arrived, I was so glad since I knew that for once in my life my father would be there to celebrate my birthday. I had told him that I wanted him to bemy companion of the evening in order to dance the traditional waltz with him. Everything started to fall apart when I noticed that he was not in the party. I remember crying beacause I had always dreamed of that day being special since he had assured that he would be there. When my family saw me crying they insisted to on with the party and try to forget that painful scene. I ended up dancing the ballroom waltz without my dad; instead I danced with his brothers. This memory became important due to the fact that his brothers worked together in order to make me happy in which I am glad for the effort that they made on this day.

Ever since I was a senior in high shool, I knew that I need to graduate in order to succeed in life and to make my mother proud after all the pain she went through because of her brother's death. On the other hand, I was feeling quite depressed because my dad's family kept on making statements to others that I would end up in the streets somewhere or that I would not graduate because my cousins did not. I could not understand why they would judge me by trying to bring other misfortunes into my life. I knew that I had to work very hard in order to achieve what I really wanted. Graduating from high school has been the proudest moment of my life, making me realize that I can accomplish anything. At the same time I was able to prove my family wrong since I had actually received my diploma.

Having my diploma, I decided to move ahead in furthering my education in order to get a degree. I knew that becoming a freshman could be quite hard since I would have to commute and because I would not have sufficient funds in order to pay for my education. During my freshman year, I was glad that everything had turned out good because I received help from the college since I was a first generation student. I think that with no help, I would have not made it through my first year of college. Now I know that when I need to give advice to an incoming freshman I would tell them to always be true to themselves and to seek for help whenever they need it or when it is offered. Attending college to me is a commitment that I am making in order to reach the success that I seek for my future and for that same reason I am still attending school up to this day.

Memories are the treasures that I keep in order to remember and to share them with others. I have never tried to block my memories of the past even though some have been quite painful. Everything that I have gone through has helped me become the person that I am now.

The Piano

In The Piano Lesson by August Wilson, the piano represents the familie's history in which it is remembered by the pictures that were carved by Doaker's grandfather. It is also remembered by the struggle that many people confronted because of the piano. I thought that during the play the piano would just cause conflict in the family between Berniece and Boy Willie. Even though the piano is not a living creature, it seemed as if it did become a character is in the play. The character in a drama is defined as the person represented in the play in which the character in the story helps the audience understand the story. The piano was not being played by Berniece but Sutter's ghost disappeared right after Berniece got the strength to play the piano. As soon as this occurred, it made me realize that Sutter's ghost was just in the house since Berniece would not touch the piano. In my point of view, if I was Boy Willie I would not sell the piano since it represents the struggle of the family neither would I sell something that my family would value.

Values of Avery

In August Wilson’s The Piano Lesson, Wilson introduces the audience to a character named Avery. Avery is a thirty- eight-year-old honest and ambitious opportunity seeker. Unlike many in this era Avery’s values were a bit different, he valued his religion and marriage. Upon forts arriving in the city Avery found himself like most adapting a trade. He worked on a skyscraper downtown name the Gulf Building running the elevator. After finding this great job Avery still sought out for more opportunity and growth.

He then seen religion as a key to success after he claims he’s had a prophecy to start a church. He tell Doaker and Winning Boy,“ It come to me in a dream. God called me and told me he wanted me to be a shepherd for his flock. That’s what I’m gonna call my church…….The Good Shepherd Church Of God and Christ(Wilson 24).” Following this dream Avery seen religion as monetary value also. He figures if he gets a good stable congregation the money he receives will be enough to make this his full-time job. Although Avery has received his prophecy, in the public eye during this time if you were a reliable preacher you have a wife on your side.

Avery also believes that by being a preacher it would be better to get married since he does not picture himself being alone. Avery has had feelings towards Berniece like he has never felt towards another woman. For that reason, he wants to get married with her in order to have someone by his side that actually meets his needs. Unfortunately Berniece pushes him away since she is not ready to get married. He encourages her to leave everything behind since Crawley death was three years ago

So far in the reading, there have been two things that Avery values. He values his religion in which he always talks in the words of the bible when talking to others. He also values that by being a preacher he should be married. Since he has been having feelings towards Berniece he decides that he is the right person to get married with but is not responded in the same way.

My Impression on Berniece

In The Piano Lesson by August Wilson, Berniece is one of the characters in the play. Berniece is the mother of Maretha and the sister of Boy Willie. She is different from the other characters since she is not that ambitous with money. I trust her since she does not think of selling the piano because it represents her families history. I believe that Berniece has become a strong person after her husband died and be able to confront Boy Willie. At the same time I think that she should try to move on with her life because she seems so lonely and her right option could be to marry Avery.