Boy Willie is the protagonist of the play The Piano Lesson, written by August Wilson. She is a character in contrast to her sister Berniece. He wants to sell the family piano. His biggest obstacle is his past and his sister. Berniece wants to save the piano and keep it namesake. The arguments surrounding bequests are the central conflict of the play. Boy Willie's "Super-Goal" contains two parts: fear and the legacy that results in memory. Before the show, Boy Willie hadn't seen his sister in three years. During those three years he was incarcerated and sentenced to hard labor at the Parchman Prison Farm. He is considered the most impulsive and proud character in the work. Boy Willie believes he is the white man's equal despite his racial background. He wants to sell the piano to “avenge” his father's namesake and at the same time make his mark on the world despite his sister's opposition to create his own legacy. He doesn't believe that the battle between black and white exists and that it is nothing more than a memory. However, he lives in his own world and ignores reality. Not being able to succeed is his fear. He doesn't want to believe that he is inferior to a white man. He wants to be able to leave his legacy in the world as he believes is his right. However, his desire conflicts with the racial situation during the time of the show. The play is set in a time when black people were primarily slaves and considered property. They also did not own any property. His belief in being equal to a white man could probably be traced back to his lineage with the piano. The piano symbolized his ancestry as far back as his grandfather existed... middle of paper... through his beliefs. He is outspoken in his beliefs about race despite his racial background and experiences. His sister always reminds him of his current status and yet Boy Willie refuses to accept believing in less than he believes he deserves. Much like the resolve that comes from blacks attempting to better themselves, Boy Willie fails to achieve his goals and thus ends up running away to another state to get away from his past. Like many of his African Americans, he overstepped his goals and attempted a crazy plan. It's pretty clear that he was fighting a losing battle, as is clearly depicted by his fight with Sutter's ghost. Eventually, unknowingly, he somehow managed to realize part of his goal. He leaves his mark on the world when he informs his sister to play the piano or he and Sutter will return..