Life Imitates Art

a work of art that nourishes the soul.

By: Sarah Beth Cowart, Art teacher

There is a saying: “Life imitates art.” This past weekend, I was surrounded by friends I grew up with, including some Perimeter School alumni. As one might expect, we talked about everything under the sun. One topic that surfaced was how much the film The Sound of Music meant to us as children and how its significance has only deepened over time as life continues to unfold. That conversation sparked an idea: This is what I’m going to do next week - I’m going to introduce my students to this movie.

My own father gave us the film It’s a Wonderful Life, passing it down as something more than just a story. If I were to pass along any story to the next generation, it would be The Sound of Music.

Between classes, I had another thought. Some of these students may never develop a habit of reading the Bible, but if they come to love this movie and its music, they are already halfway there. It holds historical significance, being based on a true story, and presents invaluable themes that will help these students navigate both the beauty and hardships of life.

The film’s central figures offer rich lessons. The Captain, a widower and war hero, has shut himself off from music, art, and laughter, unwilling to be reminded of the life he lost. Maria, by contrast, is the ultimate disciple, eager to serve God but struggling to find where she belongs, even in one of the most sacred and structured environments of her world. In the convent, she faces her inability to conform. Though deeply loved, she is also profoundly misunderstood, except by the Reverend Mother.

When Maria is reassigned, her first encounter with the Von Trapp family is met with hostility. Yet, she carries herself with remarkable confidence, refusing to be diminished by the Captain’s cold demeanor. She moves through hardship after hardship with hope and grace. She stands firm in her convictions and believes that the children’s hearts matter more than their performance. In true Charlotte Mason fashion, she prioritizes nurturing their souls. When the children protest that “Father won’t allow it,” she simply responds, “Maybe we can change his mind.”

Maria embodies unwavering hope, grace, and forgiveness. In the end, she finds herself swept into a redemptive and restorative plan, one that God had orchestrated for her, the Captain, and his grieving family. All of this unfolds against the backdrop of cultural upheaval and the looming threat of war and terror.

The Sound of Music is a work of art that nourishes the soul. It highlights the healing power of family and serves as a clarion call to the transformative nature of art and music, especially in the face of suffering. It is a reminder, much like Paul and Silas singing praises in prison, that light can break through even in the darkest places.