Maestro - Characterization Essay

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Peter Goldsworthy's Maestro focuses on the coming of age of Paul crabbe, who slowly leaves his childhood innocence behind to enter the new world of adult hood. his pathway to maturity is described through a series of experiences, particulary with an old Viennese music teacher, Eduard Keller, or the 'Maestro'. near the end of the novel, where paul is in his mid-twenties, he looks back on his transformation from a spoiled, self-indulged adolescent, to a more compassionate and more knowladgeable adult. Paul's personality changes throughtout the text. at the start paul is corrupted by pride and the idea that he is great, almost perfect even. this self-satisfaction does wonders to boost his ego, as he predicts instant fame and fourtune will fall at his feet. when he first meets keller, he acts as if he knows everything, but keller moks him constantly with such comments as, "you know so much for your age...and so little" with truth comes suffering, and suffering does play an essential part to Paul's maturity. For years, Keller has been trying to teach paul not to expect too much. he offers words of insight and once asks him, "what is the difference between good and great pianists?", he answers himself with, "not much, just a little". Obviously that 'little" is just enough to make Paul fall sort of his dreams. He misses that final step that would take him to the top, simply because of his pride. Keller taught Paul 'life lessons', which was derived from his own life, plagued with suffering. Paul becomes fascinated with his past, and later discovers through Keller how hard a life he led after the death of his wife and child. Keller blamed himself for losing them, because like paul, he also had too much pride, and thought nothing would harm the family 'who played for hitler'. he was so hurt by his own arrogance that he wanted to kill himself. however, keller survives. his

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