This is an example essay on Maestro novel:
To a certain extent, Keller is no more than a bitter, drunk and abusive teacher. Keller is bitter towards Paul and his family whenever they talk to him. Before each class, Keller has been sitting at the bar drinking schnapps. Keller is never accepting of Paul’s piano playing, he believes that Paul plays without emotion to put it lightly. Keller is at times a drunk, bitter and abusive teacher, but he also displays dedication as a teacher when he follows Paul to Adelaide to help him compete in the competition.
It is evident in the novel “Maestro” that Keller is a very bitter person. He rarely displays compassion or any kind of emotion towards anyone, besides an occasional twitch of the corner of his lip. Keller was taught by perfection and equally expects and almost demands perfection. When Paul tells Keller that he has “half-finished [the Rondo]”, Keller exclaims, “that is not possible”(page 31, Darwin 1967, Maestro). This displays Keller’s bitterness towards Paul’s learning. He doesn’t accept that Paul has tried but couldn’t find the time to finish the Rondo, he just tells him that he hasn’t done what was expected of him. When Keller is like this, it displays a lack of teaching skills. It shows that teaching isn’t his first priority in life. This is irresponsible, just like his drinking problem.
Keller spends most of his life outside of teaching at the Swan Hotel pub, downstairs from his apartment. Ninety percent of the time, he’ll come straight to class after drinking some schnapps and even bring some into his classroom. This demonstrates that Keller has a severe drinking problem and is highly irresponsible. During the book, Paul notices something peculiar about Keller. “His schnapps bottle is never more than an arm’s length distance” (page 49, Darwin 1967, Maestro). This shows that Keller is a very alcohol dependant man. This means that every time Paul has seen Keller, he has no doubt, been drunk, if he always has a schnapps bottle with him. Keller’s drunkenness and bitterness could both explain his abusive attitude towards Paul and his family.
Keller is a crotchety, rude and abusive man. He never fails to express his true opinion whether he’s talking to Paul, his mum or his father. Keller always speaks the blatant truth about anything; he never bothers to sugar coat anything he says. During a get together at Paul’s parents’ house Paul’s mother explains that Australia was affected by WWII as well as Europe, “German speakers were interned”. Keller then responds by saying “One presumes they were not gassed…and then burnt, after the removal of gold amalgam” (page 44, Darwin 1967, Maestro). Keller shows no compassion towards Paul’s mum. He doesn’t bother to consider that she hasn’t had the real effects of war placed on her like him. He just uses sarcasm to make her feel stupid and disappointed. He also makes her realise that she doesn’t have any idea what war is really like. Keller is never light hearted about anything, except for when he’s drunk. He has little compassion for anyone else’s problems. He believes that his past is a just reason for him to be rude, abusive and drunk to his heart’s content.
Keller rarely displays any cheerful emotions towards anyone. He drinks irresponsibly. He also never compliments anyone’s anything, except for Paul’s father’s win. Which again displays his dependence on alcohol (page 44, Darwin 1967, Maestro). When Keller is introduced to Rosie, he “inclined his head slightly, then returned his gaze to the soundshell.” (page 69-70, 1968, Maestro). Keller barely even acknowledges Rosie’s presence even after she tries to start a conversation with him. In this instance Keller was being bitter and on the verge of abusive to Rosie.
To sum up, I believe that Keller is a bitter, drunk and abusive person and teacher. He has little respect for anyone, he has an unhealthy dependence on alcohol, and doesn’t care about anybody’s feelings. But to give Keller a little credit, he does show dedication when he follows Paul to Adelaide to help him participate in the competition. He also displays consideration of Paul’s playing when he sends back Paul’s tapes from university along with a “book” of notes. All in all Herr Keller is a very rude teacher and a drunk; however he does care about people, but rarely lets anyone know.
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