By the terminal of the novel the reader feels that both Keller and Paul are egoists and every bit unattractive characters. While I agree with the first portion of this statement I disagree with the 2nd. In this essay I will be discoursing the characters self-importance. is relation to each other. I will explicate the logical thinking behind the characters reasoning’s and because of this why I believe that Paul is the more unsympathetic character of the two. The reader learns really on in the book that each of these characters has unattractive qualities. Goldsworthy creates these characters every bit unwanted in their ain right. Paul’s superficial position on emotion and his speedy opinion particularly when it comes to Keller contribute to the portraiture of Paul as a reasonably unsympathetic character.

Paul makes the passage in this book turning up and this in its ego is really much a conducive factor as we see him turn into his self-importance where as Keller is explained and slightly redeemed. Despite Keller being describes as a ‘virtuoso’ he is viewed by Paul -and there for the reader -as arrogant and patronising. “ The male child is given to much ego satisfaction” he observes of Paul. which is a just description as Paul is frequently critical and patronising of Keller’s learning techniques. which may good stem from his superior position of himself. “ of class he sounded better. he had a better piano. ” Paul from really early on is self centred. believing he is the best.

He takes things at face value. particularly when it comes to judging Keller and his instruction manner. He does non take the clip to watch and larn before doing premises. When he says “He’s a Nazi” he could non hold been more incorrect. This statement go more evident towards the terminal of the novel when we learn about Keller’s association with the NAZIs and the effects it had non merely on his life but besides those of this household. his married woman and boy. Keller’s anti-social behavior tends to convey a distance between himself and the other people in Darwin but besides from himself as a character and the reader. But this is non a negative influence. in fact it makes the reader empathise with him or at least fascinate the reader adequate to be on his side. This could be seen as one of Keller delivering factors.

When Keller chooses to travel to Adelaide. Paul realised that his expatriate was self imposed “ His expatriate was chosen. non forced upon him” . Keller’s haughtiness and naivete during the War are why he chooses to remain in Vienna and finally causes the deceases of his married woman and boy. Keller believes that he had been betrayed. that by being close to Hitler his household would be saved. This premise was naif. he says himself “I knew these people. these liquidators. I had signed their concert plans. His ego imposed isolation in Darwin as a consequence of this evokes empathy and sympathy in the reader and this could once more be seen as a redemptive quality. As the reader learns that Keller has ground for his self-importance. Paul- because of his young person is viewed negatively because he comes off as an nescient kid. When he moves to Adelaide we realise nevertheless that he has slightly been groomed into this haughtiness.

Learning from Keller. Paul learns a batch but he besides gets handed all of Keller’s haughtiness every bit good. Learning the techniques from Keller but non how to play the music with passion. Paul starts to believe that technique is the lone of import thing. Keller as we learn has ground to concentrate on the technique. merely because he can non stand the hurting of really experiencing the music. evident in his losing finger. Paul’s haughtiness grows throughout the book. As he progresses through the lessons with Keller and besides as his love life grows with Rosie. he grows more self assured. Paul is really self driven and thought he is the best he makes determinations that show his haughtiness to the fullest.

The pick to travel to Adelaide right on the cusp of acquiring to eventually cognize everything about his instructor shows that non merely is he chesty he is an egoist. He wants the celebrity and glorification of being an astonishing piano participant. While Paul appears egotistic. he is frequently cognizant of his defects. Despite being pretentious. Paul is basically diffident. His safety in the music room analogues Keller’s self-imposed purdah at the Swan. Paul is diffident of himself. as his ‘self-perception lagged shyly behind [ his ] growing spurt’ . His haughtiness protects him from his solitariness and his inability to achieve illustriousness. Although Paul’s psychotic beliefs of magnificence grade him as a weak character.

At the terminal of the novel Paul admits that he “is able to gull my audience at the uneven concert…but never…myself” . mentioning to his musical ability. Paul comes to the realization that he will ne’er be the piano participant he desires and this admittance evokes some empathy from the Maestro readers. Paul’s self-importance is much more outstanding than Keller’s. and the calamity of Keller’s life in a manner prevents the reader from holding negative feelings towards him. Paul and Keller are represented as narcissistic characters but whereas Pauls is viewed as negative with little delivering factors. Keller’s is understood and earned and explained from his passed.