Short Story and Wilhelm
In the short story, “Wilhelm” by Gabrielle Roy, true love is put to the test and undergoes great scrutiny. Through perseverance and the power of love, true love can conquer all obstacles in its path. The story starts with the main character, a daughter of oppressive parents who has forbidden her to see and talk to Wilhelm, an immigrant employed as a chemist in a small paint factory. Her stern parents went to great lengths to prevent communication between Wilhelm and their daughter and implemented various tactics to thwart their plans of crossing paths with each other. The inspirational story of perseverance is told through the eyes of the daughter, the main character, making it in the first person point of view. The story takes place in Quebec, on the streets, at the main character’s home, and it all started at the O’Neills’ residence, a large gabled house located on Rue Desmeurons. One evening at the O’Neills’ house, the main character meets Wilhelm. It was a typical, musical night at the residence and the main character was asked to play Paderewski’s “Minuet”; and was then followed by a performance by Wilhelm on his violin. Over time, their relationship developed until one day, Wilhelm started accompanying and escorting her home from school. When her mother discovered who it was accompanying her daughter home, she forbade her from returning to the O’Neills, so long as she had not got over the chivalrous Wilhelm. Wilhelm, being as intelligent as he is, now finishes work earlier and waits for the main character at the covent door. Upon her coming through the door, he carried all her homework and books – including music sheets, and metronomes all the way to the corner of her street. Soon enough, her mother finds out about Wilhelm accompanying her home and carrying her books and prohibits her daughter from ever seeing Wilhelm again. Attempting to defend herself, she tells her mother that she can’t prevent him from even walking on the same sidewalk as her. Upon