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‘Paul Crabbe and Eduard Keller demonstrate good and bad personality traits.’ Discuss.
Paul Crabbe and Herr Eduard Keller demonstrate their own kind of good and bad personality traits outlined by Peter Goldsworthy, in the novel ‘Maestro.’ The protagonist of the novel, Paul Crabbe, along with his music teacher, Eduard Keller, possess attributes that may have been brought up due to the circumstances in their life or they may have taken on these personalities as a result of time and of their surroundings. Yet, personalties can be shaped and changed over time. All characters will hold traits that are noble and some that are not approving. However, characters can learn to correct them. While, Paul’s adolescence may have been to blame for some of his immaturity, his positive attributes can be recognised.
Paul is seen as talented and a precocious musician as he has an excellent ability to play the piano. He is also intelligent as he informs readers that he may have had competition at school because a new comer, Rosie, had become an academic rival in his class. Paul also defines his world in local, national and global terms and this reflects his intelligent spatial awareness. His loving personality is soon revealed when he finally realizes his true feelings for Rosie, of her other qualities of loyalty and emotional depth. He holds this important to him, due to Paul loving and being faithful to Rosie. Furthermore, Paul’s musical intelligence enables him to act as a ‘teacher’ for a band he became a member in, even reciting Keller’s ‘finger’ story. Paul’s relationships with his peer groups show his sensitive nature and an occasional tendency towards naivety. While, Paul, on the last page of the novel, initially regrets his ‘lost’ childhood, he notes after saying that he'll love his ‘foolish, innocent world... endlessly, effortlessly.’ This shows that Paul was able to pick himself up and not be immersed in the regret/remorse, which is in contrast to Keller who was affected by his wife and sons loss.
Eduard Keller’s experiences in Europe have led him to Darwin; one of the furthest points on earth from where his great loss occurred. However, Eduard Keller, too, possesses a high ability of musical talent, crafting his career and learning from some of the greatest composers of our time. Keller is a determined and focused teacher. Keller’s authoritarian teaching methods stem from his own rigorous training and his need for control. He is a proud loner who keeps others at arm’s length, yet he is gracious in his rejection of Paul’s grandmother’s offer of a beer. Keller’s experiences have shaped him as brutally honest, but his motives are pure. Keller is also a wise person, due to the aphorisms he gives to Paul, which are supposed to make Paul a better person. The fact that Keller is remorseful about the deaths of his wife and son, is a good trait. Compared to Paul, Keller is able to accept blame for his wife and sons deaths. For Paul, he is unable to accept the fact he couldn't win piano competitions and he preferred the excuses. Keller on the other hand, accepts the truth that has happened to his family. However, Eduard Keller and Paul Crabbe, do hold some bad traits.
Peter Goldsworthy described Paul as a ‘smartarse…who lacked self-criticism, sensitivity and maturity.’ He is also self-centred, stating on his first meeting with Keller, ‘had he spruced up especially to meet me.’ Yes, he is arrogant and often snobbish and a spoiled son. His self-obsession and snobbery are heightened when Paul becomes frustrated at Keller for not being able to play and vows, ‘never to return.’ Consequently, Paul amuses himself and demonstrates his own ignorance by referring to Keller as ‘Adolf Hitler’ and becomes ‘determined to expose Eduard Keller as the war criminal I suspected he was,’ a witty remark that soon becomes heavy with irony. In addition, Paul also displays another example of his ignorance when Keller’s playing is obviously superior, but Paul puts this down to ‘the mechanical…he had the better piano.’ Paul cannot help making witty, smart remarks and is beaten up. He is also initially immature but considers himself better, able to understand the ‘adults-only’ code his parents speak in. Later, as a grown up man, does Paul come to terms with his youthful arrogance stating, ‘I was the only pianist I had time to listen to,’ and,‘most of my love was wasted on myself.’ Despite Paul’s scathing and egotistical ways, his teacher, Eduard Keller holds some bad characteristics.
Keller’s constant drinking, retreat from social life and deliberate choice of inhospitable living conditions are indicators of his self-imposed penitence. Keller denies himself the pleasure of the music that fired his imagination during his performing career. Although Keller is a demanding, stern teacher, he has a dry sense of humour. Answering his own question, ‘What is the difference between good and great pianists?’ Keller replies, ‘Not much.’ Keller can also be regarded as a rather curious person, as he has an obsessive interest in newspapers, regarding human behaviour. However, the collections represents Keller’s determination to punish himself by seeking out a constant flow of negative commentaries on human behaviour, in order to reinforce his judgement of his past actions. Keller’s abrupt manner is a deliberate ploy to distance himself from other people. He lives in self-imposed isolation from friendship and social contact. He is also almost always guarded and defensive, except when he comments upon music. Keller can be seen as an eccentric and strange man, who seems to be out of place in Darwin. This can be seen from his absurd dress of clean, white suits on very humid days that Paul comments on, ‘the suit: white linen, freshly pressed. And absurdly, in that climate.’ However, Keller’s alcoholism is more understandable when recognised as an effect of the horrors he has been through. His mistrust for all that seems romantic or passionate is an attempt to bury the memories and grief from his past away.
Overall, Paul Crabbe and Eduard Keller both hold attributes that can be considered as good and bad. Paul learns to overcome most of his immature ways and learns to be loyal and loving to Rosie, knowing that he his loved also. Despite, most of Keller’s unusual and unwanted behaviour, he has been ‘scarred’ and retreats to his odd behaviour in order to hide and bury his past. Therefore, personality traits are brought up due to the circumstances in the characters life and therefore, shape a character for the good or bad.
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