The Blues In The Selected Plays Of August Wilson

August Wilson(1945-2005) is one of the most eminent contemporary African American playwrights.His twentieth century cycle of ten plays,in which he has written the experience of the African Americans,earns him the place in American theatre.This thesis focuses on the blues music in five of Wilson's plays,including Ma Rainey's Black Bottom,Fences,Joe Turner's Come and Gone,The Piano Lesson and Seven Guitars.By comparing some lyrics and characteristics of the blues with Wilson's plays,this thesis attempts to find out how the blues has influenced Wilson's creation of the plays.This thesis analyzes the influence of the blues from the following three aspects:the theme,the characterization and the structure.Through the detailed analysis,this thesis concludes that Wilson's plays have been greatly influenced by the blues.First,Wilson skillfully utilizes the blues in his plays to convey the theme of self-definition and hardship of the African Americans.Second,the utilization of the blues in the plays helps to portray some unique women characters with strong personality.Finally,Wilson employs the techniques of repetition,call and response in the creation of his plays.To sum up, the successful utilization of the blues helps Wilson to form his unique dramaturgy.