Maestro Text Response

Because he wanted Paul to learn from the mistakes he had done, and for him not to fall in the same ones he had. But he does learn from him in the long run, perhaps in a more subconscious way. In this Paul learns from Herr Keller about himself and starts to understand what he had been trying to teach him. After all, even though some of the greatest composers in the world were Germans, they also committed some of the worst crimes against humanity, and he learns to accept that such paradoxes exist in life. as if he knows everything, but Keller changes this in Paul by mocking him constantly, with comments like, “you know so much for your age…and so little”, and won’t give in to his superficial ideals.

In Paul’s eyes, Keller probably insulted him more than he did inspire, so he uses him as a scapegoat for all his problems. His remarkable teacher, though he treats him with contempt at various points, he does take from him the appropriate values, which shapes him as a person. One of the things Paul seems to learn from Keller in the end is that there is tragedy, but there is also cause for celebration.

Keller teaches this to Paul, who learns that life is not simple, but complicated. Paul does not appreciate it when the old man honestly points out his true arrogant nature, but Keller does this not to harm Paul but on the contrary to help him. Keller blamed himself for losing them, because like Paul, he also had too much pride, and thought nothing would harm the family of the man ‘who played for Hitler’. He offered words of insight and once asked him, “What is the difference between good and great pianists?” And Paul answers himself with, “Not much, just a little”. This eventually awakens to his truth.

Paul gains maturity and better understands himself through the presence of Paul’s role model.

For years, Keller had been trying to teach Paul not to expect too much.