This story is a bout a young boy named Clark, who is living in Boston. He receives a letter saying that his Aunt Georgiana is coming to visit from Nebraska.
As a young woman, Georgiana had been a talented music teacher at the Boston conservatory until, during a trip to the Green Mountains, she met Howard Carpenter, ten years her junior. They eloped and moved to a homestead in Nebraska.
It has been thirty years since Georgiana has seen Boston. Clark recalls her kindness to him when, as a boy, he visited Nebraska and she introduced him to Shakespeare, classic mythology, and the music she played on her small parlour organ.
Clark takes his aunt to a symphony concert of music from Richard Wagner's "Tannhauser", " Tristan und Isolde", and "The Flying Dutchman" . She is intensely moved by the music and listens with tears running down her face. When the concert ends she says, "I don't want to go, Clark. I don't want to go."
Clark realizes that she has nothing ahead of her but the grim drudgery of life back in Nebraska.
source :
wikipedia
A Wagner Matinee was created in 1904.
Kansas and Nebraska
Kansas and Nebraska
Matinee Theatre - 1955 The Tone of Time 3-23 was released on: USA: 17 October 1957
It is great to love something deeply with a passion, but do not let it define who you are or be lost without it.
The narrator in "A Wagner Matinee" is Clark. He feels he owes a great debt to Aunt Georgiana because she introduced him to culture and helped shape his appreciation for music and literature during his formative years. Aunt Georgiana's influence had a profound impact on his life, and he is grateful for her guidance and support.
A useful reading strategy for clarifying meaning in "Wagner Matinee" is to annotate the text as you read. This involves highlighting key passages, making notes in the margins, and summarizing sections to capture the main ideas. Additionally, considering the historical and emotional context of the characters can deepen your understanding of their motivations and the themes of the story. Discussing the text with others can also help illuminate different interpretations and insights.
In "A Wagner Matinee" by Willa Cather, Clark feels indebted to his aunt, Georgiana, because she sacrificed her own dreams and ambitions for the sake of her family. After moving to the Nebraska frontier, she gave up her passion for music and culture, which deeply affected her life. Clark's recognition of her sacrifices prompts a sense of gratitude and obligation, especially as he witnesses her emotional response to the music at the concert, reminding him of the vibrant life she once had.
matinee
Aunt Georgina is reluctant to leave the concert hall at the end of the Wagner matinee because the music and the experience evoke deep emotional connections and memories for her. The grandeur of the performance transports her away from her mundane life on the farm, allowing her a fleeting escape into a world of beauty and art. This moment represents not just a cultural experience but also a poignant reminder of her dreams and aspirations, making it difficult for her to return to her reality.
In "A Wagner Matinee," Aunt Georgina is profoundly affected by the environment of the concert hall. The grandeur and beauty of the music transport her back to her youth, stirring memories of her past life before she moved to the harsh, isolated conditions of frontier living. This immersion in the music evokes a deep emotional response, highlighting her longing for the cultural experiences she once enjoyed and the sacrifices she made for her family. Ultimately, the experience serves as a poignant reminder of what she has lost.
In "A Wagner Matinee," Willa Cather emphasizes the stark beauty and harsh realities of the Nebraska frontier through vivid descriptions of the landscape and its impact on the characters. She highlights the isolation and struggle of pioneer life, contrasting it with the cultural richness of the music and art that the protagonist, Aunt Georgiana, experiences in the concert hall. This juxtaposition underscores the emotional and aesthetic deprivation faced by those living in the frontier, while also revealing the transformative power of art and beauty.