Yaz’s Piano Symbol Analysis

Yaz’s Steinway grand piano is both a literal and physical representation of the life she has built for herself after leaving the barrio. It is the instrument she uses to express herself and compose her music, as well as an expensive, luxurious indulgence that represents just how successful she has become in her adulthood. Yaz’s decision to sell the piano in order to buy Mami Ginny’s house at the end of the play embodies the transformation of character that she undergoes, as she is willing to sacrifice the individual aspirations for which she worked so hard in order to become the new head of her family. The acquisition and requisition of this piano, then, come to signify Yaz’s transition from being ashamed of her Puerto Rican heritage to being proud of her identity and committed to her family and community.