Despite being described as a coming of age novel, Peter Goldsworthy's novel, Maestro constructs a representation of growing up that cannot relate to female readers due to its focus on the male voice.

Notes:
Sexualisation of women/ chauvinistic/ objectifies the,
No perspective of women
Cant compare to the experiences of the girls and boys



Persuasive:
No first person, third person, (we) my opinion sound like facts, rhetorical questions, opinions/ facts, emotive language

Many of you may think that Peter Goldsworthy's novel, 'Maestro', is a bildungsroman. The theme of growing up is very well represented through the eyes of Paul, but this representation is not something that we, as women can relate to. The novel is completely written from Paul's point of view, without any inclusion from women. Through Paul's perspective, it is evident that he displays chauvinistic values. Also, the experiences and significant events told through Paul's perspective cannot be compared to those that us, as women, experience. All these factors contribute to the idea that the representation of growing up cannot be related to female readers, as ourselves.

Paul Crabbe's perspective of women in the novel is sexualised. Paul objectifies the women he fancies, such as Megan. He focusses on Megan's exterior appearance, rather than wanting to get to know her on a personal level.  "Megan's desk stood in front of mine, and perhaps it was her back that I first loved: the furred nape of her neck, her smooth bare shoulders, the thick cumulus of pale hair." (p. 32) Megan's looks was what initially provoked Paul to like Megan. Her good looks stimulated Paul to have 'dreams' about her, which again, sexualises Megan. When finally he gets the opportunity to have sexual intercourse with Megan, he assumed that "She loved to be touched, bitten, licked-but passively..." p. 80. He assumes that women like to do all these things and I don't know about you, but I cannot relate to this what so ever! Again, when he meets Rosie, who becomes his girlfriend later on, he found her annoying. Later in the book, Paul has an epiphany and suddenly he falls madly in love with her because of her looks."I watched-hypnotised - the slow, tidal rise and fall of her breasts with each breath." p. 70. Paul says nothing of women in the book, but sexual opinions and he ultimately objectifies women. As a result, we cannot relate to what Paul says.

The significant events and experiences in the novel, 'Maestro' are male experiences told through Paul, and as women, we can't relate to these experiences as they do not occur to us. Paul's dreams of Megan and, "[He] woke up the next morning sticky again, and warm and wetly contented in the groin..." (p.34-35). This is a male experience that will never happen to women, and so, how can we relate to something that we have never experienced? The focus on Paul's voice, gives no insight into a female character or voice in the novel, giving absolutely no opportunity for us to relate in any way.

The novel, 'Maestro' by Peter Goldsworthy has a strong focus on the male voice of Paul. Ultimately, women who read this novel cannot relate to the experiences and actions in the novel. The sexualisation of women in the novel is something that women obviously cannot relate to. In addition, the experiences that just men, and men only experience, is again, not something that women can relate to. Although this novel is represented as a coming-of-age novel, the focus on Paul's voice gives us as women, nothing to relate to.