what about the tuba?

“When I got to the front porch the tuba was there waiting for me. I was almost glad to see it……I looked into the foyer to see if by any chance someone had left behind umbrella, or if there was something I could use to cover my head. There was nothing, I turned, and took a deep breath, and heaved the tuba up my head, to give me a little shelter” (Chabon 361).

This incident in Wonder Boys occurs after Grady has lost most pages of his book Wonder Boys and has been beaten by Walter. The tuba is the only thing that is left with him and this signifies the important role the tuba plays in the novel. The tuba is the one that is in the hospital and it is with the tuba’s help that he can go up to the nursery to observe the new born babies. Chabon almost portrays this tuba to be the only thing that Grady has left to his possession. His wife has left him, and his book remains unfinished. But the tuba remains by his side and it is the last thing he discards. But when he finally decides to finish Wonder Boys, he throws out the tuba and enters his fourth marriage with Sara. I think the tuba symbolizes something that has always been blocking Grady’s success. Grady has not been able to finish his book and he has always fail to keep his marriage alive. But when he finally gets rid of these blocks, such as admitting to Walter his affair with Sara, admitting to the fact that Emily is not coming back to him, and accepting the fact that he will be having a baby, he finally is able to overcome his writer’s block and wins Sara’s hand in marriage. So by showing that the tuba is Grady’s only shelter during Grady’s time of failure reveals that Grady has to overcome or in many ways, let go of this heavy success blocker. Gray does finally decided to put down his heavy tuba and let himself get wet in the rain. This action brings about his inspiration for the ending to Wonder Boys.