A Wagner MatineeA Wagner Matinee

NotesNotes

The speaker’s aunt has inherited The speaker’s aunt has inherited some money and is coming to Boston some money and is coming to Boston to collect it. The speaker’s uncle to collect it. The speaker’s uncle wrote him to ask if he would look wrote him to ask if he would look after his aunt while she’s there.after his aunt while she’s there.

His Aunt Georgiana had been a music His Aunt Georgiana had been a music teacher at the Boston Conservatory. teacher at the Boston Conservatory. She met her husband on a vacation. She met her husband on a vacation. He was poor, uneducated and He was poor, uneducated and younger. They eloped and moved to younger. They eloped and moved to the Nebraska Frontier.the Nebraska Frontier.

His Aunt Georgiana is a plain womanHis Aunt Georgiana is a plain woman—her dress does not fit well, she —her dress does not fit well, she doesn’t wear a corset, and her false doesn’t wear a corset, and her false teeth don’t fit well.teeth don’t fit well.

His Aunt took great care of him when His Aunt took great care of him when he was growing up. She helped him he was growing up. She helped him study and taught him how to play the study and taught him how to play the piano.piano.

His Aunt seems to have sacrificed her His Aunt seems to have sacrificed her music for her marriage.music for her marriage.

Clark describes his aunt being in a Clark describes his aunt being in a semi-conscious state and she seems semi-conscious state and she seems more worried about her home. Clark more worried about her home. Clark suggests seeing an opera and going to suggests seeing an opera and going to a music conservatory, but says that it a music conservatory, but says that it seems that her love for that is “dead” seems that her love for that is “dead” and regrets asking her, but she goes and regrets asking her, but she goes anyway.anyway.

As the show begins and Aunt As the show begins and Aunt Georgiana hears the music she seems Georgiana hears the music she seems to “wake.”to “wake.”

Aunt Georgiana begins to cry as Aunt Georgiana begins to cry as she hears more music.she hears more music.

Through the music Aunt Through the music Aunt Georgiana remembers her life Georgiana remembers her life before Nebraska and begs Clark before Nebraska and begs Clark not to make her leave after it’s not to make her leave after it’s over.over.