Fear and Resolve

The horrors of a war can bring out a lot of emotions in the heart of the people. Fear, sadness, grief, duty, and determination are some examples of emotions that can come out in times of war. These emotions are usually mixed up and sometimes people don’t know how to feel, and face an emotional conflict.

Since my last post, I’ve continued reading The Cellist of Sarajevo and I’m almost done with the book. It’s really interesting to see how the characters each have their own internal struggles that they are facing. Arrow has let go of her feelings of compassion and sympathy and has decided to become a weapon for the defense forces. Dragan wants to help bring the city back to its former state, but doesn’t want to interact with people. Kenan just wants to stay at home and get far away from the war, but he can’t these show signs of weakness in front of his family.

The most notable character struggles are occurring with Dragan and Kenan. They want to do something good for the sake of their city and family, but the fear of the men on the hill and the shells is causing them to lose their morale.

When Dragan recognizes an old friend, Emina, in the street, he tries his best to avoid making contact with her and avoid any social interaction. He is afraid to face his fear of being reminded of everything that has been lost because of the war. When Emina eventually meets him and they talk, I noticed that there’s a big difference between the two. Emina is trying her best to retain hope, and is optimistic about the future of Sarajevo. She’s even doing her part in helping the community by giving medicine to an old woman. Dragan, on the other hand, doesn’t believe that Sarajevo will receive any help from foreign countries, and thinks they’re on their own. He doesn’t talk to anyone and has disconnected himself from the community, and is also very pessimistic. Dragans wish to restore his city is being overshadowed by his fear of caring for others. He only cares for himself and believes that there is no benefit in interacting with the community. 

“Then, Dragan understands what he’s doing, and he wants to go with the man, to help him and see if Emina can be saved. But his feet don’t move. Around him everyone is alive with a frenzied energy, but he hasn’t stirred an inch” (Galloway, 134).

When Emina is shot by a sniper near the end of the chapter, Dragan doesn’t make an attempt to try and save her. He faces an internal conflict that causes him to not take action. He knows he should go into the street and help Emina, alongside the young man who was already helping her. However, his fear controls his body and he is left in shock by the violence.

“He’s tired. He’s tired from getting water, and he’s tired from the world he lived in, a world he never wanted and had no part in creating and wishes didn’t exist. He’s tired of carrying water for a woman who has never had a kind word to say to him, who acts as if she’s doing him a favour, whose bottles don’t have handles and who refuses to switch” (Galloway, 171).

Kenan is starting to give up. The war has drained a lot out of him, and he doesn’t want to continue. This is Kenan’s emotional conflict; he understands he needs to get water for his family and neighbour, but he is fearful of what can happen to him during the war. We know that Kenan doesn’t want to become a soldier and is avoiding being conscripted, showing how his fear of the war is controlling him. His continuous trips to get water and his close encounters with death have caused him to lose his morale. He also gives up on Mrs. Ristovski and leaves her bottles behind and continues on his way home. His fear has caused him to lose sight of right and wrong as well as his humanity.

When Kenan was filling up his water bottles from the brewery and the shells started dropping near him, everyone starts running and helping the wounded. This contrasts with Kenan, who admits himself that he is of those who “stand, mouths gaping, and watch as others run or help” (Galloway, 163). Kenan’s fear is fighting with his resolve. He knows he needs to do something and help, but the fear takes over.

I feel like the middle chapters of the book do a great job in further developing each of the characters. The reader gets to learn much more about them, including their backstories, and how the war has changed them. Dragan and Kenan are both overtaken by their own personal fears. While they both want to help for the sake of the city, I believe they need to start by connecting with their community. Dragan needs to stop avoiding contact with other people and split the burden he’s carrying with others, and Kenan needs to stop giving up on Mrs. Ristovski, despite her personality. Let me know what you guys think in the comments.

Works Cited

Galloway, Steven. The Cellist of Sarajevo. Vintage Canada, 2009.