Role_of_the_Past_in_Maestro.

“And thus while I listened, the future became the present, unchallenged and all too soon, the regretted past” Discuss the role of the past in Maestro. The past dictates who we are in the present, and affects who we might become in the future. In Maestro, Peter Goldsworthy depicts the importance of the past and how it affects the future throughout the novel using a complex narrative structure. Through out Maestro, the protagonist, Paul Crabbe, recounts in chronological order the history of his interactions with his music teacher, the following main character Eduard Keller. Keller comes off as emotionless and almost arrogant to anyone he meets, this is due to the traumatizing events of his past. Although Keller, does not realize that not only is his past effecting himself, but also has an effect on Paul’s flourishing ability to becoming a “great pianist” instead of a “good pianist”. Peter Goldsworthy shows the importance of the past as he builds climax throughout Maestro and only reveals Keller’s past in the last chapters of the novel. Throughout Paul’s childhood and teenage years, he is filled with immaturity and contributes in selfish acts, ignorant to Keller’s past and feelings. Paul’s careless attitude towards his future allowed others to steer him away from what he wanted to do, having a major effect on the person he becomes. Paul soon realizes the impact that the past had on not only Keller’s life but his own life. Paul comes to the conclusion that he is dissatisfied with the life he lives. Peter Goldsworthy has structured Maestro and the characters lives on events that have happened in the past, and how it has depicted their future and who they have become. Making the past a key role in the novel. Peter Goldsworthy has structured Maestro to allow the reader to have a greater understanding of the character Keller as the past is revealed in the last chapters of the novel. Keller constantly buries his past and emotions to the extent were he is perceived as emotionless by anyone who comes across him, where “first impression [with Keller are always] misleading of course”. Keller’s past is what holds him back from teaching Paul the music he adores, and is the key reason that stops Paul from being a “great pianist [instead of just a] good pianist”. Peter Goldsworthy has structured Maestro so the reader’s perception of Keller in the beginning of the novel has changed as the knowledge of his past grows. Throughout the final chapters of the novel, Paul finds out about Keller’s family, and how they have been captured and murdered by the Nazi’s. Keller does not blame the Nazi’s for the death of his wife and son, but instead blames himself. He believes that he is the reason for the loss of his family, and it is only until we find out about Keller’s past that we understand now why Keller spends the remainder of his life constantly punishing himself. His every emotion is buried deep inside of him. It is only until Paul is exposed to Keller’s past that Paul finally understands why Keller is closed off from the world, never to release his emotions. Although as the reader, we finally understand why Keller was unable to teach Paul the music he truly loved. Although every time Keller heard Wagner “Tears [filled] the deep fissures of his face”, as the reader, we see that allowing Paul to see his emotions was the key to Paul showing emotion through his music. Keller taught Paul, and Paul had become a “good pianist”, but Keller unconsciously restricted himself from teaching Paul to be a “great pianist”. Peter Goldsworthy demonstrates the importance of the past as he structures Maestro so that Keller’s past is only revealed in the last chapters of the novel. Peter Goldsworthy continues to demonstrate the importance of the past in Maestro when Paul comes to the conclusion that he is “graying [and] dissatisfied” with his life. The protagonist Paul never wished to be departed with his piano teacher. Although he wants to stay and continue being Keller’s student, he allows others to choose his future, not realizing the impact this will have on his life. Finally realizing the importance of his past when it is too late, his “faint last hope” of being a great pianist had vanished along side Keller’s death. At first, like most, the protagonist Paul Crabbe depicts Eduard Keller as an irritating “old man”. Throughout all of the years that Paul had been insensitive but eager to know Keller’s past, Paul’s immaturity and selfish ways would prohibit him to finally know the truth. When Paul goes to say his last goodbye’s to Keller, Keller has made a tremendous effort to finally expose his mysterious past, and his emotions. When Keller is at the peak of confessing the truth, Paul lied and “had to be off [for a] flight”, leaving Keller in lonesome. It is not until the final chapters of the novel were the protagonist Paul Crabbe visits Keller’s home town Vienna and finds out about his past that he finally establishes a deep appreciation for Keller. But it is only the reader that understands the complexity of Paul’s choice to walk away from the last time he saw Keller. If Paul had chosen to continue his lessons with Keller, instead of allowing others to make decisions for him, Keller would have finally confessed his past and expressed his emotions. As Keller would have finally shown emotion in his lessons with Paul, Paul would of showed emotion when he played the piano, becoming a “great pianist” instead of just a “good pianist”. Peter Goldsworthy has structured Maestro to allow readers to have various interpretations of the events that take place throughout the novel. Keller has spent decades of his life in grief to the murders that happened to his wife and son. After the murders he spends the rest of his life punishing himself, he blocks his emotions from the rest of the world and has difficulty expressing them due to the traumatizing events. On the other hand, some would argue that what happens in the past stays in the past. Keller has had enough time to grief, and is selfish for not expressing his emotions and allowing Paul to learn from the music Keller really loves. Paul, on one hand, did not reach his full potential due to the mistakes he made from his past. Keller not opening up and allowing himself to share his emotions with Paul restricted Paul from reaching his full potential. Although some would argue that this is the same old dramatic Paul, who is only 25 years old and has just started the journey of his life. The protagonist Paul Crabbe and Eduard Keller have both lived a life were they have been effected by their past. Peter Goldsworthy has structured Maestro were it is only the final chapters of the novel were the main protagonist Paul Crabbe, and the reader, finally establish a deep understanding of the role of the past, and how it has effected not only Eduard Keller’s life, but Paul’s.