8. What does the novel suggest about the connection between art and God?

[John]

8. What does the novel suggest about the connection between music and God, works of art and God?

[Manuel]

Music takes an essential part in this novel. Out of the seven signers of the postcard, five are musical interpreters (therefore they play quintets) and in fact are joined by music. Max's family is also involved in music. His grandfather builds a harpsichord, his mother plays the piano, his teacher plays in an orchestra.

Music is presented as something the Jews are quite good at. Two of the members of the quintet are Jews, one is half-Jew. So exactly one-half of the quintet is Jew.

As we know, music and every form of art can be a pointer to God.

[Manuel]

As I said in a different thread, music and the plastic arts are God's fishing tackle to draw Adam and Max to Catholicism.

As Return to Brideshead, this book is an embodiment of Chesterton's parable about God catching us with an unseen hook and an invisible line which is long enough to let [us] wander to the ends of the world, and still to bring [us] back with a twitch upon the thread. (The Queer Feet, in The Innocence of Father Brown).

[Fonch]

Manuel wrote: "As I said in a different thread, music and the plastic arts are God's fishing tackle to draw Adam and Max to Catholicism.

As Return to Brideshead, this book is an embodiment of Chesterton's parabl..."

It is truth the paragraph was read by Therese Marchmain in Brideshead Revisited and it is a warning of the return of Sebastian Flyte, and Julia Mottram to the catholic faith, besides to the rebound Charles finish in the Catholic Church, perhaps he could not be with Julia, but he shared his faith and he is more closely that we can suppose.
It is not strange for me that the music was important because Germany plus Austria are the country with best composers.

[Jill]

Early in the book, the characters appreciate the beauty of Catholic worship without thinking it could be for them. Max wishes his mother had some faith as she approaches her death.

To these students (and grandfather), science promises everything but is deeply disappointing when divorced from right values, whereas art points beyond itself to some objective reality of truth and goodness as well as beauty.

[John]

Jill wrote: "To these students (and grandfather), science promises everything but is deeply disappointing when divorced from right values, whereas art points beyond itself to some objective reality of truth and goodness as well as beauty."

Nicely said, Jill. I can't improve on that.

[Jill]

Halpern says, "Something in our brains needs art. Nothing in our brains needs religion." But then he says poor people in the slums don't need Mozart; they need fresh air, clean beds, milk for the children.
And yet his Jewish identity does matter to him. He's one character I would like to hear explain more.
Mendel says his handful of good students "encourage us to think that music in Germany will survive the politics of hatred." How sad that he then gives in to despair! And deprives his colleague of the privilege of caring for him as he ages.