THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PAUL AND KELLER

The relationship between Paul and Keller, segmented in 3 parts: part 1 (up to page 50), part 2 (from intermezzo pg.50 - Adelaide) and part 3 (Adelaide pg. 95 - onwards)...

Darwin, 1967
-Page oneà “First impressions? Misleading of course. But unforgettable...” At first, Paul viewed Keller as a “boozer with cheap ruined skin”. This is very sterotypic al of Paul especially when you compare this to the description he gives on page 144.
-Page fourà “Had he spruced up especially to meet me? I was childish enough- self centred enough to think it likely. This reflects Paul’s initial high self-confidence. As an adult, Paul highlights how he rocognises that he was arrogant at that age.
- Page sixà “He immediately began to explain, in language i thought simple and patronising.” The use of “thought” shows that this was a first impression and that overtime Keller proves that this description is wrong.
-Page nineà “ I didnt believe a word Keller had said”. This shows the distance in Keller and Pauls relationship at the begining. It also emphasises how naive Paul is at the begining as he finds it hard for him to believe Keller, highlighting that Paul dosent trust Keller yet.
- Page 12-13à “I want to go home” “You are free to leave my home.. but you are not free to play in my home without my permission.” This reflects the childish, arrogant and immature nature of the 15 year old Paul.
- Page 13à Paul refers to Keller as a “nazi” and later on page 18 as“Adolf Keller” This exposes Pauls ignorance.
-Keller is somewhat intraverted and relcutant to open up and express emotion even in his piano playing.
- Page 13à “ I came to love the man, to depend on him. At the time (and again now, reliving that time) it seemes- seems-impossible.”- Older Paul admits to the initial strong differences between him and Keller.
-Page 18à “my eyes often strayed to a poser tacked to teh wall above his bed.” This highlights how Paul was curious about Keller right from the begining until the end.
-Page 19à “He talks. I listen.” By intalisizing the “he”, Peter Goldsworthy highlights that keller is in control.
- Page 27à Again, Keller shows he is incontrol when he tells Paul “I will teach you the music”.
-Page 31à keller’s interest in teching Paul is reflected as Paul says “ His recall of where we had left off the last week was always total.”
- Paul refers to Keller as maestro in the beginning.
-Page 23à Paul’s gradual admiration of Keller is obvious here as he says “I might acknowlegde his wave curtly: a minimal response”. The use of “might” highlights that paul dosent want to respect Keller at the begining.
- Page 31à I would play till my hands ached and he lifted them from the keyboard and chided me gently: “ We must know when to move on. To search too long for perfection can also paralyse.” This highlights kellers humanity towards Paul. Pauld egar to not on play well but to impress Keller.
- Page 35à Paul shows he cares for keller when he states“One voice was always missing from teh chorus of praise: my teacher’s/ For this i blamed the instrument he allowed me to play”. Would Paul be upset if he didnt care for Keller?
- Page 37à Paul gains respect and appreciation for Keller (“ I had never called him Adolf to his face. Now, even behind his back, the title “Maestro” seemed somehow natural”. The term maestro is a term of great respect and for Paul to refer to him as “maestro” shows his growing admiration for Keller.
-Page 38à Keller begins to open up to Paul a little bit, “My sons name was Eric. My wife Mathilde.” Keller is begining to feel comfortable around Paul to share his past even if he dosent give much away.
-Page 42à Paul relaises he wants to become “centre stage”. He begins to listen to Keller/ “If Keller asked for two bach figures each week, I prepared three. If he require three hours practice i played four..” Paul begins to want to impress Keller/ he wants keller to praise his work.
Page 43àKeller accecpts his first dinner offer. Paul recieved an A+ and Keller tells him he is to “self satisfied.” Keller sees promise in Paul bu dpsent want to feed his ego. Paul wants Keller to admire his work but Keller just puts him in his place.
Page 48à “ I was able to tell myself i was finall begining to gain some sort of understanding of teh man”. Paul admits that he is beginnging to understadn teh man Keller is. This contrasts his initial statement on page nine.




Intermezzo
Paul goes away for the Christmas break. Keller sends him a gift of a signed first edition of Czerny, the opus 599 studies. Keller is only able to send the gift “At a distance, carelessly. As if it meant nothing” (pg 54). Keller shows his affection for Paul, but is unable to say it outright. Pauls mother describes it as “The closest he can get to saying he misses you”
1968
“His attitude had changed subtly” after he sends him the Christmas gift. Keller tries to close Paul off again but Paul is “Determined to keep [his] foot wedged in the crack” (pg 64). He pushes Keller to talk about Vienna but is only able to discover little bits and pieces
On pg 65 Keller becomes “willing to share other thoughts” however any information about Vienna “remained a closed booklet.” He shared what he read in his newspapers and this satisfied Paul’s inquisitiveness for the time being.
Pg 66. Keller gives Paul his textbook of the world’s stupidity. He is trying to get Paul to realise that.
Pg 79. Paul begins to talk like Keller “First the forefinger” whilst teaching Rosie how to Play. This shows some admiration for Keller. He begins to become like Keller and remembers his teachings. While observing Rosie’s hands Paul is non judgemental as “Keller’s delicately podgy hands had taught me the shallowness of such judgements” .
Paul begins to know Keller a little better and tries to push his to answer why he didn’t leave Vienna. Keller describes himself as “too insensitive” (pg 86)


The relationship between Keller and Paul
FROM ADELAIDE...
Pages 95-end
Page 95 – Paul questions Keller on whether he thinks that he is good enough to play in Adelaide... ‘do you think i should play?’ (p.95) and ‘do you think I’m good enough?’ (p.96). Paul is trying to evoke a response from Keller, to gain his true opinion to see if Keller believes he is truly good enough. This is emphasised by the italicised ‘you’ in each question. Keller leaves Paul to make his own decision of whether he thinks he should go. This shows that Keller cares about Paul but wants him to push himself rather than being told what to do.
Page 97 – Keller considers accompanying Paul on his trip to Adelaide. Keller wants Paul to impress the judges and presents Paul with a new piece to play – a demonstration of his love for him. Keller plays a piece from memory and performs for Paul, ‘Certainly I had never been allowed this: a complete performance, uninterrupted, that lifted me onto my feet, exulting... I stood at his shoulder, shifting from foot to foot, overcome, bursting inside with song’. Keller ends his performance and says, ‘Terrible.’ – Keller plays with emotion, which is a very rare occasion, displaying his sense of love and comfort with Paul, even if he punishes himself by evoking the memories of his past.
Page 99 – Keller agrees to travel with Paul to Adelaide, ‘It is necessary.’ Keller attempts to make an excuse to come, claiming that he must accompany him, although Paul knows that Keller is coming out of love and care. Keller’s emotional barrier is still evident, trying to suppress his love for Paul, but Paul can see through it. ‘The wall was still there – the pretence that my incompetence, or someone else’s, was to blame for the fact he must travel south with me. But i didn’t for a moment believe him.’
Page 100 – Paul is still intrigued by Keller and the story of his past. Paul is now coming to realise the reasoning behind Keller’s emotionless facade and of his choice to live in Darwin. ‘Also a clue that his contempt for teaching music to me was just another charade... His contempt was fuelled by feelings far more complicated and contradictory than i had thought... His exile was chosen, not forced upon him.’ Evidence that Keller is punishing himself for what happened in his past, and also a turning point where Paul begins to understand him.
Page 102-103 – Keller devotes his time to Paul and teaches him everything he knows – another example of Keller’s love for Paul. Paul analyses everything Keller does. On page 103, Keller doesn’t want to get between Paul and his family, he is afraid of becoming too close, ‘I am too much between you.’
Page 105 – Paul is more concerned about playing with Keller than with his band. A sign of respect and care for Keller.
Page 107 – Keller attempts to bond with Paul as he speaks about his band, again educating him with his cryptic messages. ‘Every fish has it’s depth’. Keller wants to warn Paul and give him life lessons, as if Paul were his own son.