Super Short Summary

The Centaur by John Updike, published in 1963, intertwines ancient myths with a modern tale centered around George Caldwell, a high school teacher in the 1940s, who imagines himself as the mythological centaur Chiron. Struggling with his own dissatisfaction and self-esteem issues, George faces challenges at work and in his relationship with his son, Peter, who longs for a deeper connection with his father and dreams of becoming an artist. The narrative explores their strained bond, George's feelings of inadequacy, and Peter's growth into adulthood. The novel includes discussions of self-harm and terminal illness, which may be sensitive for some readers.