What do I think of Holden?

My feelings toward Holden are quite negative to an extent. Although negative, I like the way that Holden speaks his mind and is quite honest in his thoughts and when he speaks to other characters. I also like the way in which Holden is an observer and takes in everything around him. Although I do have positive feelings towards the character of Holden, there are quite a few negative qualities that disadvantages me in making a strong connection towards the character of Holden. The first is that he is quite narrow minded in his opinions and doesn’t accept the ideas of others. The second being that sometimes he tends to ramble on in his thoughts and when he speaks, where he tends to jump from one idea to another. The third being that he is quite judgemental of people, and is critical of people who he sees as boring, “phoney” and insecure. For example Holden states that Ackley behaves the way he does because he is unpopular and insecure. Holden makes Ackley appear to be disgusting by describing in detail about Ackley’s toenails and pimple squeezing. Therefore my feelings toward Holden are quite negative to a certain extent. 

Paul's Response To Keller's Letter

This letter is not intended to be sent to Keller

Dear Her Keller,

I am sorry that I did not reply to the letter you sent me in response to the tape I sent you of my Honours performance in Elder Hall in 1972. At the time, I could not find the words to say, to be honest I was angry and disappointed. When the parcel came to my door I was stunned to receive the tape back for a start, but along with a book of notes full of harsh critique telling me to go back to basics, Six months of The Children’s Bach I recall was the last thing I wanted to read. I was too proud, too proud of the fact that I was a well-known pianist.  

However looking back at this now, I realise what you said was right. When I had gone back to Adelaide in 1974 I had forgotten the basics. I became so wrapped up in the attention that came my way that I forgot to pay attention to all the important little things you taught me, things at the time that seemed so insignificant, yet in reality were the fundamentals that would lead me to being a truly successful pianist and someone you could be proud of.

I am writing this letter to you to express to you how appreciative I now am of everything you taught me and to the time you took to teach me everything you knew. I am sorry it took me so long to realise.

Paul Crabbe.

Darwin 1967: Gap Exercise Herr Keller

My eyes followed him as he ran from my room. I turned around and retrieved my textbooks from my shelf, opened it and starting from the beginning, as i did every time. 

"That boy is so young, he has so much to learn." I muttered to myself. 

Unfortunately he does not realise until you have grown up, you will not understand what you don't understand. He is too spoilt, too overconfident, I could tell from the moment he walked in and from the way his father spoke so well of him. I do see potential in him however, i believe he can one day become a concert pianist, yet he has so far to go. So I must go back to basics, he needs to listen to what I tell him, work hard to fix his bad habits. He will come back, I know he will. I thought no more of this and closed the textbook placing it back on the shelf, and walked downstairs for my 5 o'clock beer. 

Monday's Lesson- Intermezzo

In Intermezzo, while Paul is in the library looking for clues in books that will tell him more about his piano teacher's (Keller) past, we are positioned to view Paul in a different way. This visit to the library affects my view of Paul, this is because his response to the lovers in the library demonstrates to me that he has grown and matured since the last section, in the way that he has gone from a boy, to a teenager. This is supported by the way Paul shows a strong curiousity about was is occurring in the next aisle in the library, where he becomes distracted by the lovers. This moment in the novel is an instance where his interest in learning about Keller is interrupted and conflicted with his budding sexuality. While Paul is successful in finding information about Keller's wife, he walks away from the library more excited about the couple he had just witnessed.

From the previous section of the novel we learn before and after Paul comes for his piano lessons, Keller is often engaged in his scrapbooks, symbolising its importance to Keller. Towards the end of this section, Keller's teaching methods also change, "His teaching methods also changed with the coming of the Wet: suddenly he seemed to find music of certain composers unbearable" (P.49) He later says to Paul, "'Beauty simplifies,... the best music is neither beautiful nor ugly. Like the world, it is infinitely complex. Full on nuance. Rich beyond any reduction. We must not make the mistake of confusing music with emotion.'"(P.50) The gift Paul later receives from Her Keller in Intermezzo is a "battered, yellow edition Czerny, the Opus 599 studies." (Pg. 54) Paul is disappointed with this gift as he already has it, however his father discovers the value in this gift. The value of this gift and the way in which it is received, is a demonstration of the obscure care in which Keller has for Paul.

First Impressions in Maestro

The first impressions I have of Paul Crabbe at the beginning of the novel is that he is a bit of a misfit, a ‘fence sitter’ (Chapter 4, p. 17) He does not appear to be a quiet child because he says exactly what he feels and claims that he is self centered due to the fact he is a child. I was child enough––self-centred enough––to think it likely’ (Chapter 1, p.5). Pauls relationship with his parents differs quite a bit, his mother is presented as very motherly and as the carer of the household ‘As always, my mother… began fussing in the kitchen” (Chapter 2, pg. 7) Paul also states ‘my mother, ever the conciliator’ (Chapter 2, pg. 8) meaning that she acts as a mediator. She is also presented as more emotional and talkative, the complete opposite to her stoic and quiet husband John Crabbe. Paul is quite obedient when speaking to his father, ‘In these pairings of opposites I have always put my father first,’ (Chapter 4, pg. 15) but it appears that he can be more open with his mother and express his feelings more freely.