Symbolism In The Cellist Of Sarajevo

In the novel, The Cellist of Sarajevo, the author Steven Galloway explores the power of music and its ability to provide people with an escape from reality during the Siege of Sarajevo. A cellist plays Albinoni’s Adagio for twenty-two consecutive days to commemorate the deaths of twenty-two citizens who were killed by the mortar attacks on the Sarajevo Opera Hall while waiting to buy bread. Albinoni’s Adagio represents that something can be almost obliterated from existence, but be recreated into something beautiful, since it was recreated from four bars of a sonata’s bass line found in the rubble of the firebombed Dresden Music Library in Germany in 1945. The Sarajevans listening to the cellist are given respite from the brutal reality

Arrow is instructed to protect the cellist from the enemy sniper who has been sent to kill him. As Arrow watches the enemy sniper through her scope, she sees that “[h]is head [is] lean[ed] back slightly, and she sees that his eyes are closed, that he’s no longer looking through his scope. She knows what he’s doing. It’s very clear to her, unmistakable. He’s listening to the music. And then [she] knows why he didn’t fire yesterday” (153). The enemy sniper does not want to display his emotions as a sign of weakness, so he only leans his head back slightly. The music allows him to experience positive memories with family and friends and reminds him of his hope for a future where his life is peaceful. He is not prepared to shoot the cellist, end the music and consequentially, stop experiencing positive emotions. He is unaware of his present surroundings as he is completely immersed in memories and fantasies as he escapes reality through music. Music allows Arrow to maintain her moral beliefs that shooting an innocent person is wrong when her spotter tells her to shoot a civilian. Arrow says, ““I’m not going to kill an unarmed civilian”,” (224) to which her spotter insists, ““You’ll kill who I tell you to kill”” (224). Arrow says, ““No”” (224). Arrow refuses to succumb to unjust regime instructions and abandon her moral beliefs

As the sun reflects of glass, it is restoring life into all facets of Sarajevo, including its citizens, its streets and its wildlife. The beautiful city of Sarajevo is reborn as the small pieces of civilization, symbolized by cobblestones, are aligned. Sarajevans stand up taller as they rediscover their pride in themselves, others and their city. Their health improves and they put on weight and regain colour as a direct result of accessible nourishment. By listening to the cellist, Kenan realizes he is still hopeful for a dramatic change in Sarajevo’s environment. However, Dragan experiences the music differently and sees small improvements in the city. Dragan is a middle aged man who exercises extreme caution when crossing the streets on his way to get bread from the bakery. As he waits to cross a street, he meets Emina, a friend of his wife’s, and they discuss life during the Siege. Dragan notices Emina’s confidence and remarks, “I don’t know how the idea of being shot or blown apart doesn’t scare you,” (125) to which she replies, “There is a man playing the cello in the street” (125). She says, “I don’t know the piece he plays, what its name is. It’s a sad tune. But it doesn’t make me sad” (125). She finds comfort in the unfamiliar melody, which inspires her to rebel against the unfair restrictions inflicted upon her