War has always been one of the most shocking and destructive elements in human history. In his novel The Cellist of Sarajevo, Canadian author Steven Galloway seeks to summarize the effects of war on individuals. Galloway emphasizes that although war has a significant impact on people, it is the positive attitude of citizens that allows them to grow in times of great sadness. The author presents such a view of humanity through the symbolic use of music, images of broken glass, and wildflowers. Ultimately, Galloway highlights the positive potential of the human spirit, even in times of struggle and conflict. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get an original essay The importance of the cellist to the moral of the story cannot be overstated. The cellist is an individual who strives, in the face of great danger, to play his instrument for twenty-two consecutive days. As the author points out, this takes place in commemoration of the twenty-two victims who died following a mortar attack on a crowded bakery in the besieged city of Sarajevo. In Galloway's composition, the narrator plays the role of Kenan, a character whose daily routine involves fetching water for his family. Kenan is a great admirer of the music and says: “He has been coming to hear the cellist play every day since the brewery was bombed. Every day, at four o'clock, he stands in the street, his back against a wall, and watches the city come together and its residents emerge from hibernation” (Galloway 2008). Even at the sight of the bombed brewery, the music that the cellist plays in front of Kenan offers him an escape. This leads him to the epic realization that although war is a challenge and struggle for all individuals in society, there is still room for great beauty, even in a time when all hope seems lost. It is the healing music given to Kenan that allows him to have a positive outlook on life. The song played by the cellist, entitled Albinoni's Adagio, is significant in itself. The piece was discovered at the height of World War II, in a burned-out church in Dresden, Germany (Galloway 2016); a city historically known for experiencing one of the worst firebombings of the war (Alan 2016). It is stated in the prologue: “That something could be almost erased from existence in the landscape of a ruined city, then rebuilt until it was new and useful” (Galloway 2016). The song played by the cellist represents not only the healing effects of music, but also the hope of returning to their once great city, which allows people to grow at a time of great sadness. Broken glass is littered around the city of Sarajevo, torn apart by mortar fire and numerous sniper bullets. This is emphasized in the passage where the narrator points out that even though all of Sarajevo's windows are blown to smithereens, citizens such as the ace sniper, aptly nicknamed Arrow, still keep the remains as souvenirs. (Galloway 2016). It is important to note that the author not only represents the daily struggles of the city's residents, but also the hope that is projected through the surviving pieces of broken glass. These are the surviving pieces of glass that provide a way forward for those around them, a hope and courage that allows them to be optimistic about their lives and their futures. Even at a time when many of these pieces of glass are at risk of being broken, they are.