Peter (short story)


Peter is a short story by Willa Cather. It was first published in The Mahogany Tree in 1892.

Plot summary

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.

Characters

Peter was retouched and submitted for publication by her English professor, Herbert Bates, without her knowledge.
It has been argued that Peter reappeared in My Antonia, with Mr Shimerda's suicide.