Object
Solo Hired Violinist (anniversary ceremony)
A polished four‑string acoustic violin—amber varnish over a curved spruce top and maple back, slender ebony fingerboard and chinrest—evoked rather than shown. The instrument exists as a phone‑call‑away service: Margaret suggests hiring a violinist and moves to place the call while Leo reacts with bemused distance. Characters treat it as a ceremonial flourish — a tangible, luxury detail summoned to shape an intimate anniversary moment amid crisis.
2 appearances
Purpose
To provide live melodic accompaniment and formal music for an anniversary ceremony, supplying atmosphere and a structured, intimate soundtrack to the couple's celebration.
Significance
Functions as a domestic ritual object that heightens contrast between private tenderness and public crisis: ceremonial minutiae distract Leo, humanize him, and underscore the emotional cost of his political life. The violin stands as a symbol of ritual, intimacy, and the fragile veneer of control that foreshadows marital strain.
Appearances in the Narrative
When this object appears and how it's used