Question

Describe Beethoven’s efforts to live up to his father’s expectations.

Write your answer in a short paragraph of about 100-150 words by incorporating the following aspects.

• His father’s expectations and treatment of Beethoven
• Difficulties Beethoven faced in fulfilling those expectations

Answer 1

The father of Beethoven had high hopes for him because he wanted to make him a great musician. He was mean and harsh, hitting Beethoven a lot and expecting him to do perfect work. This constant pressure made a bad setting where Beethoven’s worth depended on how well he could play. Even though Beethoven’s father was mean, he worked hard to meet these standards, practicing nonstop to get even a moment of approval. But his father’s song of “not good enough” played over and over, making Beethoven feel like he was never good enough.

Beethoven had many problems. Not only did he have to deal with his father abusing him, but he was also losing his hearing, which was his most important tool as a singer. Even so, he kept writing music and performing. He even cut off the legs of his piano so he could feel the sounds through the floor. Beethoven’s journey was hard because of his father’s constant demands and his own physical limits, but his genius and determination helped him get through it all and leave a legacy that stood up to his father’s harsh criticisms.