"I was coerced into taking piano lessons in the early '50s. It was a quite unpleasant experience"

This quote by Robert Quine recommends that he was required to take piano lessons in the 1950s, which it was an undesirable experience. This could be analyzed as a reflection on the pressure that was placed on him to comply with societal expectations of the time. It might likewise be viewed as a commentary on the lack of option and autonomy that he had in his life. The quote might also be interpreted as a reflection on the power dynamics in between him and whoever coerced him into taking the lessons. It could be seen as a suggestion of the power that grownups had over children in the 1950s, and how this power could be utilized to manipulate and manage them. Eventually, this quote functions as a reminder of the value of option and autonomy in our lives, and how it can be eliminated from us if we are not mindful.