Peter Sadelack played second chair violin in Prague, and, despite losing his ability to play, continues to treasure his violin. His eldest son, Antone, tries to convince Peter to sell the violin. The story then describes his glamorous life back in Bohemia as he reminisces. After comparing his past and current lives, he attempts to play "Ave Maria", or Ellens dritter Gesang, on his violin. He cannot finish the song because of his shaking arm. Peter takes his violin to the stable and takes down Antone's gun. He breaks the violin and then shoots himself.
Antone finds his father frozen in the stable the next morning. He notices that his father forgot to break the bow, and he plans to sell it in town. Because Peter committed suicide outside in the cold, his body was unable to be straightened for a coffin; he is buried in a pine box instead.
Charactersedit
Peter Sadelack, the main character of the short story. He was a second chair violinist in an orchestra in Prague. Despite tradition, he is not the master of his household. He likes to drink whiskey and reminisce about the past.
Antone, Peter's son. He is the master of the household, and he is very careful with his money and requires each family member to help run the household and farm.
Herr Mikilsdoff, an orchestra conductor in Prague in Peter's youth.
French woman, a singer from Peter's days in Bohemia. She was very beautiful and had a wonderful voice. Peter enjoyed watching her sing, even though he couldn't understand the words. He mentions her just before he kills himself.
Peter was retouched and submitted for publication by her English professor, Herbert Bates, without her knowledge.[2]
It has been argued that Peter reappeared in My Ántonia, with Mr Shimerda's suicide.[2]
Referencesedit
^Willa Cather's Collected Short Fiction, University of Nebraska Press; Rev Ed edition, 1 Nov 1970, page 543
^ abWilla Cather's Collected Short Fiction, University of Nebraska Press; Rev Ed edition, 1 Nov 1970, 'Introduction' by Mildred R. Bennett, page xxvii
External linksedit
Original Publication at the Willa Cather Archive
March 14, 2024
peter, short, story, peter, short, story, willa, cather, first, published, mahogany, tree, 1892, peter, short, story, willa, cathercountryunited, stateslanguageenglishgenre, short, storypublicationpublished, inthe, mahogany, treepublication, typeliterary, maga. Peter is a short story by Willa Cather It was first published in The Mahogany Tree in 1892 1 Peter Short story by Willa CatherCountryUnited StatesLanguageEnglishGenre s Short storyPublicationPublished inThe Mahogany TreePublication typeLiterary magazinePublication date1892 Contents 1 Plot summary 2 Characters 3 Allusions to actual history 4 Allusions to other works 5 Criticism and significance 6 References 7 External linksPlot summary editPeter Sadelack played second chair violin in Prague and despite losing his ability to play continues to treasure his violin His eldest son Antone tries to convince Peter to sell the violin The story then describes his glamorous life back in Bohemia as he reminisces After comparing his past and current lives he attempts to play Ave Maria or Ellens dritter Gesang on his violin He cannot finish the song because of his shaking arm Peter takes his violin to the stable and takes down Antone s gun He breaks the violin and then shoots himself Antone finds his father frozen in the stable the next morning He notices that his father forgot to break the bow and he plans to sell it in town Because Peter committed suicide outside in the cold his body was unable to be straightened for a coffin he is buried in a pine box instead Characters editPeter Sadelack the main character of the short story He was a second chair violinist in an orchestra in Prague Despite tradition he is not the master of his household He likes to drink whiskey and reminisce about the past Antone Peter s son He is the master of the household and he is very careful with his money and requires each family member to help run the household and farm Herr Mikilsdoff an orchestra conductor in Prague in Peter s youth French woman a singer from Peter s days in Bohemia She was very beautiful and had a wonderful voice Peter enjoyed watching her sing even though he couldn t understand the words He mentions her just before he kills himself Allusions to actual history editIn his youth Peter knew Marie d Agoult Franz Liszt Sarah Bernhardt and Rachel Allusions to other works editPeter remembers seeing Sarah Bernhardt act in Victorien Sardou s La Tosca He also mentions Franz Liszt Frederic Chopin and Ave Maria Criticism and significance editPeter was retouched and submitted for publication by her English professor Herbert Bates without her knowledge 2 It has been argued that Peter reappeared in My Antonia with Mr Shimerda s suicide 2 References edit Willa Cather s Collected Short Fiction University of Nebraska Press Rev Ed edition 1 Nov 1970 page 543 a b Willa Cather s Collected Short Fiction University of Nebraska Press Rev Ed edition 1 Nov 1970 Introduction by Mildred R Bennett page xxviiExternal links editOriginal Publication at the Willa Cather Archive Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Peter short story amp oldid 1109868916, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
