In "Three Men in a Boat," why could George never learn to play the banjo?

We encounter references to George’s banjo in several chapters. In Chapter XIV, we are finally told that George can get some music out of it. Montmorency the dog howls along with his plucking. But the sound gives Harris a headache – or at least, that’s what he claims. So George is forced to stop and to delay his lessons. He vows to learn more about playing the banjo only after he gets back home from...

We encounter references to George’s banjo in several chapters. In Chapter XIV, we are finally told that George can get some music out of it. Montmorency the dog howls along with his plucking. But the sound gives Harris a headache – or at least, that’s what he claims. So George is forced to stop and to delay his lessons. He vows to learn more about playing the banjo only after he gets back home from the trip. But according to the narrator, this plan doesn’t succeed, either. His landlord complains about the sound in the house. George tries to practice the banjo in a public square instead, and he gets into trouble with the local police as a result. Everyone seems to be conspiring against him, in this effort. He later sells the instrument and decides to learn card tricks instead. Yet, before that happens: in the final chapter of the book, George is able to render a version of the song “Two Lovely Black Eyes.” Harris and J. are moved to tears by it.