This is a good example of a kind of Schroeder strip that never gets seen later on. It does a fine job of illustrating his personality. Schulz here presents the true Schroeder, not some dilettante doodler at the keyboard but a determined artist. In the classic age of the strip Schroeder is by far most often seen as a supporting character, setting off Lucy's monomania or Snoopy's whimsy. Here he trains alone, building himself up to be capable of performing the music he hears in his mind, determined to live up to his vision.
While we might can sympathize with the spurned Lucy's pleas for affection, and his maniacal worship of Beethoven is often played for laughs, Schroeder is generally an admirable character.
I absolutely love his determined walk in the next-to-last panel.
ReplyDeleteYou figure that this was drawn at a time when people weren't into fitness like they are today... and that must have made it seem all the funnier.
ReplyDeleteI'd have to disagree, njguy; physical fitness has always been popular, and among kids, I'd say it was even more popular in those days before "tv bottom."
ReplyDeleteNote panel 4, wherein Schroder stands on two books to reach the floor. Now that's dedication. I haven't seen a nonprofessional athlete do that in years.
Amazing. I never imagined there was a strip that made Schroeder look badass and hardcore. Every serious musician or artist should keep a copy of this one.
ReplyDeleteHow many Sunday strips have there been in which Schroeder was the ONLY CHARACTER? I can't imagine that there have been very many.
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