Act II Scene 3

In this lighter scene, Berniece blocks Boy Willie’s attempt to spend an evening with Grace. In her home, all sexual behavior is forbidden, not just her own. The critic Kim Marra reads this moment as Wilson implicating the black matriarchy as a partner with white supremacy in the emasculation of the black man. Wilson aligns Berniece with the white man, Marra writes, by having each of Boy Willie’s attempts to move the piano interrupted by the anger of either Berniece or Sutter’s ghost – they are effectively interchangeable. And this scene drives home the point by having Berniece prevent Boy Willie from even having a romantic evening.

The portrayal of Berniece is rather cold and hard, but this scene serves to slowly soften some of her defenses. Boy Willie and Avery had tried the tactic of attacking Berniece like a fortress, but Lymon makes more progress by quiet, slow steps. He is a dreamer, looking for the right woman. Or maybe that’s just a line – but if it’s a line, it’s a successful one. The feminine nature sought by Avery is still there – it’s just not at the surface.