Hate Exposed In The Cellist Of Sarajevo By Steven Galloway

“The Cellist of Sarajevo”, by Steven Galloway, depicts the lives of three citizens in a besieged city. Based on an interview with the author, Galloway hopes readers will glean two main themes, one of which is, “One is to understand what happens to the world and us as individuals when we abdicate responsibility for who we hate.”(1) Through this theme the author shows how people in power are able to easily influence others during times of oppression to not only benefit themselves, but also enforce hate of the enemy, as shown by character conflicts within themselves or the world and the war.

The story shows the war through three characters one being Arrow, a skilled sniper for the Sarajevo military who is gets ready to shoot a target when she

Through the influence her army commander, a person of power Arrow is pressured hate the idea of the men on the hill rather than be questioned where her loyalties lie. As a consequence the war has distorted her perspective on hate by making her despise the men on the hills not because of the crimes they have committed against her and her fellow citizens, but rather because they classify as the men on the hill. As the book continues, Arrow realizes how hatred was used to divide people and cause more death and destruction, “No grief or rage or noble act could undo it. But it all could have been stopped. It was possible. The men on the hills didn’t have to be murderers. The men in the city didn’t have to lower themselves to fight their attackers. She didn't have to be filled with hatred.”(22) This quote is important because it shows that the death and destruction could have been prevented if the circumstances around her were different, yet destructive forces from people of power were used to lower citizens and permit violence and death through hatred. Due to powerful citizens, civilians were drafted into the war not by their will, but rather as a last resort to protect their city. Although nothing could undo the war, through this discovery Arrow is still able recognize her humanity

Another character Kenan, takes a trip to the market and thinks to himself about the tunnel which gangsters use to bring in food and necessities, “How it could be used as a way to save the city. Instead it’s lined with rails to carry cars that bring in the goods being sold here at their ridiculously inflated prices.”(182-183) The relief being sent in from other countries is taken by powerful gangsters and sold at prices most citizens can’t afford, putting to waste the tunnels use of allowing citizens to leave and seek safety. Soon after, Kenan notices a well fed man, clad in a new tracksuit buying a truck load of water. This infuriates Kenan because he realizes how unfair it is for these men to get water with no effort while