American literature essay. Literary analysis of works and characters - Sykalo Evgen 2023

Seven Guitars: Strumming a Song of Unfulfilled Dreams: Artistic Ambition and Racial Prejudice in August Wilson's “Seven Guitars”
August Wilson

The moving play "Seven Guitars" by August Wilson takes us to Pittsburgh in 1948, where the energetic Hill District is alive with music and dreams. In this context, Floyd "Schoolboy" Barton, a gifted young blues musician full of ambition but confronting the hard reality of racial prejudice and social constraints, is introduced to us.

Wilson does a fantastic job of capturing Schoolboy's complexity and variety of features. He is a talented musician who aspires to record songs and release it to the public. But in the segregated America of the 1940s, the obstacles that Black artists encountered had a continual presence in his path.

A diverse group of personalities representing many facets of the Black community surround Schoolboy. Hedley is a disgruntled and frustrated soldier trying to reintegrate into society. There's Louise, a strong and independent lady who looks past Schoolboy's shortcomings; and Canewell, the wise boardinghouse owner who offers support and counsel to Schoolboy.

The drama explores issues of creative ambition, racial discrimination, and the battle for self-expression via their relationships. Schoolboy's ambition to fulfill his musical goals is thwarted by social constraints, which deny him recognition of his ability because to the color of his skin.

The title of the play, "Seven Guitars," is meaningful in and of itself. Every guitar stands for a distinct aspiration or possible course that Schoolboy could have followed. The incomplete tunes and broken strings, however, draw attention to the unrealized potential and ongoing battle against misfortune.

Schoolboy has difficulties, yet his enthusiasm never falters. Refusing to let his dreams die, he keeps performing with all of his heart and soul. His tenacity is proof of the human spirit's ability to persevere through adversity and find happiness in the face of seemingly insurmountable challenges.

"Seven Guitars" is much than just the narrative of a struggling artist. It is a potent critique of racism's lasting effects and the struggle for acceptance and artistic expression. Through examining the unrealized aspirations and dashed ambitions of Schoolboy and his community, the play forces us to face historical injustices and work for a future in which brilliance is recognized for its own sake, regardless of one's color or origin.

In brief: August Wilson's "Seven Guitars" explores themes of racial prejudice, creative desire, and the unrealized aspirations of a gifted Black musician in 1940s America.