Arrow In The Cellist Of Sarajevo

In Steven Galloway’s The Cellist of Sarajevo, the environment of war is associated with trauma and torment while its counterpart the environment of normal life is thought of as joyous and harmonious. However different these two realities are, they can both be united by one aspect – humanity. The three main characters, Arrow, Kenan and Dragan, all “stumble into the core of what it is to be human” (12) by performing routine tasks in extraordinary conditions.
Arrow comes to the realization that to be human means to fully enjoy all aspects of life before it comes to an end. In Arrow’s mindset, life is “a series of tiny decisions leading to consequence” (95). Arrow realizes that life is all about making decisions and waiting for outcomes. Many of

the decisions that Arrow makes during her daily routines are well calculated and thus have predictable outcomes. However, there are a few decisions that Arrow makes which instead lead to life threatening outcomes. It is through the siege that Arrow realizes that life is a beautiful gift and that she needs to live life with no regrets before it comes to an end. This is reflected in the fact that Arrow’s actions drastically change as the novel progresses. Her attitude towards decision making changes from performing actions inside her comfort zone to making daring decisions that let Arrow live her life the way she wants regardless of her surroundings.
Although it takes her the entire length of the novel, Arrow does become aware that beliefs that she may have had during the war do not necessarily change who Arrow truly is: “You don’t choose what to believe.

Belief chooses you” (14). Arrow understands that she has no control over what she believes. Arrow might feel like a different person throughout the siege however the true Arrow and the beliefs that she had before the siege never go away. Even though the true Arrow was hidden to the reader throughout the novel, near the brink of death, Arrow realizes that she has control over who she is and how she will live her: “My name is Alisa” (258). By acknowledging the person that she was before the war, Arrow realizes that Alisa was hidden inside her all along. She comes to the understanding that the beliefs that she had about life and what it means to be human will always stay with her because part of what is means to be human is that she has no control over what she believes. Near the end of her life, Arrow decides to end the life with a decision that she would not regret and thus finally realizes what it means to be human again. Arrow get a few moments to enjoy that fact before her life

ends.
The unseen characters, predominantly Kenan’s family, help Kenan realize that to be human is to live life to the fullest while having conscious knowledge that life will come to an end.

Kenan realizes that part of being human is the ability to adapt and be normal: “they all find a way to continue with life. They’re not cowards, and they’re not heroes” (244). Kenan comes to the understanding that when faced with difficult circumstances, the core of being human is not based on actions that define whether someone is glorious or weak; rather the core of being human is about the ability to sustain life. Kenan realizes that there is only one life and when faced with though situations, being humans means resisting danger and proceeding with life as normal as possible. The people in the siege know that their life could end any day, however instead of panicking or hiding in fear, they just continue living their lives. As well, it does not matter what others think because the core of being human is just to live life in a way that suits and satisfies each individual person. Just because there is a siege does not mean that all people should stick it out together and torment those who left. Sometimes leaving tough situations can be the right

decision.
Similar to Arrow, Kenan also realizes that happiness is a very important part of being human. This happiness comes to Kenan in two ways, helping others and the music from the Cellist. Kenan is the sole member of his family left in Sarajevo as he sent his wife and child outside to safety before the siege began. He often reminisces about them and, although those moments are very brief, they bring the greatest moments of happiness and joy to Kenan during the depressing situation of the siege. Some might view not toughing it out as a country together as a cowardly act. However, as seen by the happiness that his family’s safety bring him, Kenan realizes through the many moments that he reminisces about his wife and child that to be human is to make the best decisions that one can while alive and just to enjoy life while it lasts.
The Cellist has an effect on all three main characters however he has the greatest effect on helping Kenan realize what it means to be human. During one of the last times the Cellist plays, Kenan comes to the realization that good things in life do not last forever. Kenan becomes aware that the Cellist will not play forever, even though it seemed like the deaths and fighting would continue forever during the siege. Kenan sees that he needs to take advantage of good things while they come before it is too late. Life is limited. Birth is the just the start of a long countdown to death. However Kenan understands, through the music of the Cellist, that to be human is to fill life with as much happiness and joy as possible. It takes the beauty of the Adagio for Kenan to appreciate the beauty that life has to offer, and the necessity to enjoy it while it lasts.
By reuniting with Emina, Dragan realizes that to be human is to be happy whenever possible when still alive before life comes to an end. Dragan realizes what it means to be human when he says “that’s how life is supposed to be. They will be happy. They won’t hate anyone” (183). Dragon understands that life is limited and that it should be filled with moments and memories that he will cherish and not regret. Life is too short and precious to be filled with hate. War inflicts a lot of hate in many people however, that should not be a main part of life. Dragan sees that to be human is to be happy while he is alive because he knows that when he dies, he will have no chance to relive life. Hate is perpetual and so is happiness, but hate will lead to more wars and suffering while happiness will lead to peace and joy for future generations.
There are also other experiences that Dragan encounters during the siege that lead him closer to realizing what the core of being human is. Dragan is mentally affected by the suicide of a World War II survivor during the siege. This moment helps Dragan realize what too much hate can do to a person. Even though everyone only gets one life, if overwhelmed with hate, that life is simply not worth living. In addition, at the end of the novel, Dragan decides to risk his life to deliver the heart medication to an elder woman that he had never met before. Dragan understands that it is important that he fill his life with happiness and appreciate life while he is still alive. By deciding to do something so involuntary and risky, if successful, Dragan knows that the reward that the act of good intention brings in terms of happiness to both his life and the women’s life is well worth it.
The core of what is means to be human may have slight variations for each of the three main characters, but it is clear that all three characters learn to appreciate the preciousness of life. Through their experiences during the siege, each character realizes the importance of happiness and the significance of enjoying life before it comes to an end. Though what it means to be human can be unlocked under any circumstance, it is most easily identified by triggers that exist in war-like environments.