The Song of the Lark

Mrs. Lorch and Mrs. Andersen are both kind and welcoming to Thea. The house is outdated but safe, and Thea is well looked after. She develops a friendship with the women.

Andor Harsanyi knows that Thea is gifted, but her ignorance of the world and of music surprises him. Although her talent was nurtured in Moonstone, she was sheltered. Thea realizes her family and friends in Moonstone kept her ignorant. This frustrates her. She starts second-guessing herself at the piano and her identity as a musician.

Harsanyi tries to help Thea engage with the larger world of music. But when he offers her tickets to see concerts and operas, she always refuses. Thea is tired out and seems defeated, though she still works hard at her music.

Even though Harsanyi is a piano teacher, he starts coaching Thea on her voice after discovering how beautiful her singing is. It takes Thea a while to learn the nuances of songs, but when she does, her new insight and her talent move Harsanyi.

Thea spends her days studying music and working as a funeral singer. Work exhausts her, and she avoids engaging with the city. The sounds and excitement of a city don’t interest her. Thea finally goes to the Art Institute and discovers that she loves being immersed in the museum. She sees herself in a painting titled “The Song of the Lark.”

Thea finally attends a symphony concert. She is moved by the music because it reminds her of home. The busy, noisy streets bother Thea even more after the concert. She sees the city as an antagonist that is trying to take something from her. She resolves to make sure the city doesn’t defeat her. Thea will instead commit herself to chasing the ecstasy of true artistic expression. She no longer considers herself a young girl.

Theodore Thomas, the conductor of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, suggests Madison Bowers as the best voice teacher for Thea, even though he doesn’t like Bowers.

Harsanyi tells Thea that she should stop taking lessons with him and start voice lessons with Madison Bowers. He informs Thea that though she is talented, she would have to start professional piano training much earlier in life to become a pianist. He believes her vocation is in her voice, not in the piano. Harsanyi is sad that he’ll lose Thea as a student but promises to remain her friend.

Thea travels home to Moonstone for the summer. She’s been studying with Bowers and finds him unfriendly but excellent at teaching. Thea enjoys learning to sing. She believes that singing is bringing her closer to the version of herself she always dreamed of becoming. Thea wonders if other people feel that they have different versions of themselves. Thea is determined to live an exciting life and pursue her ambition.

As she approaches Moonstone, Thea is moved by the land and the spirit of Colorado. Thea “had the sense of going back to a friendly soil, whose friendship was somehow going to strengthen her; a naive, generous country that gave one its joyous force, its large-hearted, childlike power to love” (106). Ray had also had these types of thoughts, which Thea realizes now is why they got along so well.

Thea’s siblings want to treat her normally, so she doesn’t act better than them. Thea is happy to be home, where it’s quiet and beautiful. Anna asks Thea to sing at a neighbor child’s funeral, but she declines, reasoning that she needs to save her voice; if she does this, she’ll constantly be expected to sing for others while she’s home.

Thea’s parents privately reflect on her appearance; she has matured physically and has a new light about her. When Thea’s mother urges her to sing at the funeral, she relents.

Spanish Johnny invites Thea to a dance in Mexican Town. Thea loves the music and dances with the Ramas brothers. Thea sings duets with Johnny. Her singing moves the people of Mexican Town.

Thea’s siblings don’t approve of her singing all night with the Mexicans. Anna accuses Thea of preferring Mexicans to her own people. Thea realizes that her home in Moonstone “had always been her refuge, but there was a hostility in the house now which this door could not shut out. This would be her last summer in that room. Its services were over; its time was done” (117). Thea is sad to leave her childhood behind, but she can’t ignore that she is different from her siblings.

Thea visits Dr. Archie. He encourages her to pursue her ambition. Thea fears failing. Dr. Archie is alarmed by a new type of attraction to Thea, who has grown older and womanlier. Throughout the summer, Thea is anxious that something will prevent her from returning to Chicago. When she finally leaves Moonstone to return to Chicago, she knows she is saying goodbye to her hometown forever.