American Values And Ideals That Define The Culture
From “The Piano Lessons” it is evident that Americans have always engaged in activities that will assure them of continued support and presence of slaves in their homes. The extent to which the dependency exists on the slave is depicted by the deteriorating health status of Robert Sutter’s wife when the slaves are exchanged for the piano. The fact that there will be no one to command and carry out all the household chores, as well as, reduced property which will be owned by the family. Americans in the early days believed that in order to get recognition from society and neighbors, there had to be compound. Consequently, an ideal family set-up should include the entire white family and the family of blacks who are owned by the white family such that the two families were expected to mutually benefit from each other although the rights of the slaves were not spelt out to them hence they were never free (August, 1990).
Another set of American values that define culture are the unrealistic dreams and aspirations that are posed by John Barth in his novels. Americans in an attempt to enhance their lives and being happy always are faced by serious marital problems, as well as, failure to meet society’s classification of what an ideal marriage entails. Hence in the same way Bernice faces tribulations for being single, in addition to, turning down so many men, society portrays her as being less women. According to the values that shaped the culture after slavery, a complete woman was one who had a husband or a man by her side thus exhibiting society’s ideal woman (Outline of American Literature Chapter 8).
Love and sexuality is another dimension which has been accorded highly on determining the American culture. While most authors have dwelled so much on homosexuality, “The Piano Lessons” present love as that being two committed people of opposite genders. When Boy Willie is forced to cut short his romantic moments with a girl he had seen in the streets, he sets his mind into acquiring a permanent girlfriend as a way of increasing his status in society. Similarly, the Sutter family was complete with both parties being strongly connected to each other. Hence in the play normal marriages are portrayed as the only sources true love and they consist of partners from both genders who are mutually tied. However, in Chapter 8 of the “American Prose”, Tennessee Williams vividly explains the tribulations and emotional disability experienced by Americans who were involved in homosexual relationships. Hence it is not the ideal relationship which is expected for Americans who want to live happily (Outline of American Literature Chapter 8).
The other more significant American value that is portrayed in Chapter 8 is the role of women. Society expects women to be submissive and junior to men such that decisions made by women are given less regard especially in public. The same scenario is repeated in “The Piano Lessons” where Boy Willie and company are not moved by Bernice’s determination to have the piano remain in the house. Boy Willie is determined to sell the piano regardless of the attachments and role it plays in the family tree despite many attempts by Bernice to avert the moves (August, 1990).
References
August, W. (1990). The Piano Lesson. New York: Plume publishers
Outline of American Literature Chapter 8. American prose since 1945: realism and experimentation retrieved on August 10, 2010 from: http://usa.usembassy.de/etexts/oal/lit8.htm.
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