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First Impressions of Herr Keller
As Paul meets Herr Keller, he notices all of the usual things; the 'red glow of his face, the pitted sun-coarsened skin and the eyes'.
This experience shaped Paul's character as it allows us to see why he wouldn't make a great concert pianist; he doesn't pick up on the finner things; the important factors that contribute to emotion. -
Period: to
Paul's Journey
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Shall I play Chopin for you Maestro Keller?
As Paul is sitting at the piano next to Keller on what he thinks may be his second or thrid lesson, he states 'Chopin?'. At this remark Keller grimaces and says 'If you must.' This is a defining point in the book at it represents Paul's short temperedness and unwillingness to accept the Maestro's judgement. It defines his playing; technically perfect, but emotionally and expressionally boring. -
The Dry season
'What is the difference between good and great pianists?' Still in the year of 1967, with Paul's relisation of how greater teacher Keller is, we can start to see Paul's way of thinking; always inside the box. This shapes his character as it presents his black and white sort of view. -
Learning about Keller's background
In this segment of the book, Paul's mother asks Keller what nationality he is. 'I am Austrian.' Keller replies. When Paul's mother delves further and assumes that he speaks German, we then understand that yes, Keller was in some way involed in the Nazi war. This then shapes Paul's character as he begins to become nosey in wanting to know more of Keller's life even though it isn't his place to do so. -
Intermezzo - The Library
The scene in the library define Paul's character when he see's the scene between a random man and women. 'Trembling with excitement and terror'. This defining point in the book shows us that Paul is very much like any normal teenage boy. -
Rosie Zollo
The arrival of Rosie Zollo was one that displeased Paul at the start. This is due to the fact that 'she was too much like me. Also, I worried; I now had competition.' This represents that playing the paino isn't really that enjoyable for Paul; it's all a competition. By making Rosie feel inferior during their lessons together, Paul's self esteem increased. -
Botanical Gardens Concert
At this point in time during the book, Paul's opinion of Rossie changes due to her dramatic change in appearance; she becomes a beautiful teenage girl. This shows us that Paul is a very shallow guy because he didn't orginally like her personality. However, now she has matured, he wants to be with her. -
The Band
At this point in the book, Paul has seemed to grow in confidence as he chooses to spend time with the school bullies. This represents that Paul is infact able to adapt to the school yard requirements and is definately changing personaltiy wise; last year he couldn't stand to be around these guys. -
Paul's love for Rossie
After the point in time where Paul had sex with the girl he always dreamed of; he realised that what he had with Rossie was much more important and a lot more like love than fake feelings. 'I wasn't so much guilty, I was terrified. Terrified that I might lose her'. This shapes Paul's character as he is starting to demonstrate some form of emotion. -
Paul's idea of friendship
In this small section of the book, we get a real idea of the kind of person Paul is. He states to Bennie Reid 'They're not my friends.' This shows us that he's cowardly enough to hang out with the bullies in order to not get hurt or picked on; yet shallow enough to dob the only person who be-friended him on his first day at a new school into the bullies. -
After the concert in Adelaide
'You are my best student, yes. One in a thousand. But a concert pianist in one in a million.' Here we can see Herr Keller's high praise of Paul. However, in Paul's selfish demeneour, he states that he wants to stay so Keller can teach him everything he needs to know in order to be the best concert pianist. This has shaped Paul's character as we can see his arrogance; everything he played was technially correct yes, but there's no expression. That is the one thing that can't be taught. -
The arrogance continues
As Paul has finished school and will soon be travelling to study law and music performance at university; he spends his last lesson with Keller talking of the story he had so longed to hear and selfish enough to ask about too many times; Keller's family and the war. This define Paul's character for the entirety of the book; not willing to face the truth of Keller's words; such as those of his piano playing. -
Christmas of 1974
Here we still see Paul is as arrogant as ever when he gets overly frustrated with Keller's Christmas letter of musical advice. 'The Children's Bach? Still?' This shows us that Paul's mind set and attitude hasn't changed; he is still unwilling to take anyone else's advice because he thinks he is the best. -
More information on Keller
Here, Paul hears of Keller's role as Hitler's personal pianist. As Henisch talks of Keller's unwillingness to be associated with Austrian's; Paul is led to believe his act as stupid. However, in Paul's own arrogance, we can understand that Keller did this only to try and protect his family. And when Paul plays for Henisch, he gets angry at the fact that he doesn't believe that he, Paul, could have learnt from the great Herr Keller. -
A week ending
The ending to the book is much of an anticlimax; Paul is reveiwing his life and is very dissapointed for what he has to show for it. This just shows us that if Paul had done more listening, observing and taking in, he may have gone further. But because he was so arrogant and selfish, he didn't fullfil the life he had dreamt for himself.