The March King by Katherine Little Bakeless

Introduction

The March King is a heartwarming story about John Philip Sousa and his son, Philip. The story beautifully depicts how one can thrive in life by pursuing their love and career according to their aptitude, temperament, and inborn taste. It focuses on Philip Sousa, the son of John Philip Sousa, and how he is impacted by his father’s musical talents and the bands he encounters in early 1860s Washington, D.C.

Summary of The March King

The story “The March King” opens with a young Philip watching the United States Marine Band, his father’s band, pass by his home. His joy causes him to bounce up and down as he sees his father march with the band. Philip decides to pursue a career in music after witnessing the band. He enrols at a music school, where he improves rapidly in playing the violin.

Philip enjoys playing baseball and the violin equally, and he finds himself in difficulties one day. He has a performance to perform a violin solo and a baseball game to pitch on the same day. As he arrives home exhausted and dirty, he discovers that his mother has been called away and won’t return until late at night. He rushes to get ready for the concert, only to discover that his clean laundry has not yet come and that he has no clean shirt to wear.

He runs to his music teacher, who lends him oversize clothes. With the help of the teacher’s wife, the shirt is pinned to fit Philip properly. Eventually, Philip arrives at the concert.

During the show, Philip’s pin begins to loosen, and he is concerned that his shirt will fall off while he is performing. Nonetheless, he successfully completes his solo, and the audience applauds him warmly.

Philip concludes the story that it was worthwhile to pursue his passion for music despite obstacles.

Theme of The March King

The main theme of the story “The March King” is pursuing one’s passion in spite of obstacles. Even at a young age, it is obvious that Philip has a strong passion for music, and he practises constantly in order to become an expert violinist. Yet, his devotion to baseball almost keeps him from participating in the annual concert that he was invited to. Despite this, he does not give up and goes to his music teacher for support. After much determination and hard work, he finally finishes his solo and the audience gives him positive compliments on his performance. The moral of the tale is that one should never give up on their dreams and should always go after what they are passionate about. The narrative also demonstrates how support from one’s parents and educational opportunities may assist a child in realising his or her ambitions.

Characters

The story’s main characters are Philip and his father, John Philip Sousa. Philip is a young boy who is motivated by his father’s musical abilities and is captivated by the bands he sees in Washington, D.C. John Philip Sousa is a well-known musician and composer who leads the United States Marine Band. He encourages his son to pursue his passion for music by setting a good example for him. Philip’s mother, his music teacher, Professor Esputa, and Mrs Esputa are some of the other characters in the story.

Wrap Up

To be brief, can say that Katherine Little Bakeless’s “The March King” is an uplifting story that inspires readers to pursue their passion and vocation based on their aptitude, temperament, and innate taste. It greatly emphasises the significance of tenacity in pursuing one’s goals, as Philip’s willingness to pursue music despite setbacks. The story also highlights the significance of role models like John Philip Sousa, who motivate and serve as examples for others.