"The Cellist of Sarajevo" Characters Analysis

List of Characters in "The Cellist of Sarajevo"

Role Identification

Character Descriptions

The Cellist

• Modelled after Vedran Smailović, the real-life musician who played in Sarajevo during its siege.
• Remains unnamed in the novel, symbolizing every artist who resists brutality.
• Performs Albinoni’s Adagio every day for 22 days to honor those killed by a mortar attack.

Arrow (Alisa)

• Young woman, formerly a university student and member of the city’s defense.
• Renowned for her marksmanship and stealth.
• Takes on the name “Arrow” to separate her wartime self from her pre-war identity.

Dragan

• Middle-aged bakery worker.
• Lost contact with his family, except his wife and son.
• Struggles to reconcile the city he loves with the reality of its destruction.

Kenan

• Middle-aged husband and father of three.
• Tasked with procuring water for his family and elderly neighbor.
• Embodies the struggle of ordinary citizens under siege.

Emina

• Elderly neighbor of Kenan.
• Acts as a surrogate grandmother to his children.
• Maintains dignity and kindness despite hardship.

Ismet

• Kenan’s friend, appears briefly.
• Shares information and offers practical advice.
• Represents the importance of small acts of friendship.

Nermin

• Arrow’s commanding officer.
• Assigns missions and provides philosophical guidance.
• Balances the harshness of war with moments of empathy.

Character Traits

Character Backgrounds

The Cellist

• Inspired by real-life cellist Vedran Smailović.
• Witnessed the mortar attack that killed 22 people.
• Plays music as a form of protest and remembrance.

Arrow

• Real name is Alisa; changed identity to cope with guilt and trauma.
• Former university student with a talent for shooting.
• Joins the city’s defenders to use her skills against the besiegers.

Dragan

• Once employed at Sarajevo’s bakery before the siege.
• Family members have mostly fled or died.
• Clings to memories of pre-war Sarajevo.

Kenan

• Worked at a brewery before the war.
• Has a wife and three children.
• Takes risks daily to provide for his family and neighbor, Emina.

Emina

• Longtime neighbor of Kenan.
• Lost family members but continues to support her community.
• Symbolizes the resilience of Sarajevo’s elderly.

Ismet

• Old friend of Kenan.
• Adjusts to life under siege with practicality.
• Represents the network of support among civilians.

Nermin

• Military leader in the city’s defense.
• Responsible for Arrow’s missions.
• Recognizes the moral toll of warfare.

Character Arcs

The Cellist

• Begins as a passive observer, traumatized by violence.
• Finds purpose in playing music as an act of defiance.
• Becomes a symbol of hope for the city.
• Remains enigmatic, his arc is primarily symbolic rather than personal.

Arrow

• Starts as a skilled but emotionally detached sniper.
• Assigned to protect the cellist, leading her to question the morality of killing.
• Struggles with orders that conflict with her conscience.
• Ultimately rejects blind obedience, reaffirming her personal values.
• Her arc ends with her reclaiming her true identity, even at the risk of death.

Dragan

• Begins withdrawn, mistrustful of neighbors and strangers.
• Encounters moments of kindness and connection that challenge his isolation.
• Gradually reopens himself to hope and the possibility of community.
• His arc is one of personal transformation, from fear to cautious optimism.

Kenan

• Starts out fearful, resentful of his daily task, and anxious.
• Faces dangerous situations in the quest for water.
• Discovers the value of small acts of courage and solidarity.
• Returns with renewed strength to support his family, embracing his role as a provider and protector.

Emina

• Remains a steady presence throughout the narrative.
• Faces danger but continues to help others.
• Her arc is subtle, representing the enduring spirit of the city’s older generation.

Ismet

• Minor arc, but shows adaptability and the ability to support friends.
• His interactions with Kenan offer moments of levity and support.

Nermin

• Struggles with the ethics of war and his duty as a commander.
• Seeks to protect his subordinates while achieving military objectives.
• His arc explores the balance between authority and humanity.

Relationships

Thematic Analysis Through Characters

The Cellist: Beauty in Resistance

The cellist’s performances serve as a silent protest. He chooses music over violence, beauty over despair. Each day, his music reverberates through the ruined streets, asserting that art can persist even as war attempts to annihilate hope.

His character is less about personal evolution and more about symbolic resistance. The cellist invites the citizens to remember their humanity. He never takes up arms, yet his presence is a rallying point for nonviolent defiance. His arc is circular, beginning and ending with music, unchanged by violence but affirming the persistence of beauty.

Arrow: The Cost of Survival

Arrow’s narrative is marked by moral conflict. Once Alisa, a student and daughter, she becomes Arrow to survive. Her skill as a sniper is both a weapon and a burden. She accepts missions with lethal consequences, but when asked to kill for political expedience rather than defense, she hesitates.

Arrow’s relationship with Nermin is complex. He understands her strengths but also manipulates her sense of duty. Protecting the cellist forces Arrow to reckon with the person she has become. She ultimately chooses integrity over blind obedience, even knowing it may cost her life. Arrow’s arc is one of reclaiming self, illustrating the difficulty of maintaining morality during war.

Dragan: Alienation and Reconnection

Dragan’s journey is internal. The war isolates him, not just physically but emotionally. He avoids neighbors, fearing betrayal or loss. Encounters with people like Emina challenge his cynicism. Small acts—sharing bread, a brief smile—remind him of the city’s past warmth.

His turning point comes as he recognizes the futility of perpetual suspicion. Dragan’s arc moves from alienation to cautious engagement. He realizes the importance of collective resilience over individual survival.

Kenan: Ordinary Heroism

Kenan’s story is a testament to everyday heroism. Each trip for water is a test of courage. He is not a soldier, yet his actions are vital. Kenan’s anxiety is palpable, but he perseveres for his family and Emina.

Through Kenan, the novel illustrates how war makes heroes of ordinary people. His relationship with Emina is particularly poignant. He could have abandoned her, but instead, he chooses compassion. Kenan’s arc is one of growth—from reluctant participant to determined provider.

Emina: The Heart of the Community

Emina is a symbol of Sarajevo’s enduring spirit. Her presence reminds others of the city’s pre-war character—generous, neighborly, resilient. Despite her age and frailty, she insists on helping others.

Her interactions with Kenan and Dragan reinforce the theme of communal support. Emina’s arc is less about change and more about constancy. She is a touchstone for the other characters, her steadfastness a quiet form of resistance.

Nermin: The Burden of Command

Nermin embodies the compromises of leadership. He must balance the safety of his people with the demands of war. Assigning Arrow to protect the cellist is both a tactical and moral decision.

Nermin’s arc explores the tension between humane leadership and the brutal necessities of war. He recognizes Arrow’s internal struggle and ultimately respects her choices, even when they diverge from his orders.

Character Interactions and Their Significance

The Cellist and Arrow

Although they never speak, Arrow’s mission to protect the cellist is transformative. Watching him play, she is reminded of pre-war life and her own lost innocence. The cellist’s vulnerability forces Arrow to confront her own identity and moral boundaries.

Kenan and Emina

Kenan’s decision to fetch water for Emina is an act of kindness that transcends survival. Emina treats Kenan as family, offering advice and encouragement. Their relationship illustrates the importance of mutual aid in crisis.

Dragan and Emina

Dragan’s brief encounters with Emina spark moments of reflection. Her optimism and courage inspire him to reconnect with others. Emina’s influence nudges Dragan toward hope, helping him reclaim his sense of community.

Character Analysis Table

Psychological Depth and Growth

The Cellist

The cellist is intentionally enigmatic. His past is less important than his actions in the present. He represents the conscience of the city. His refusal to abandon his art, even as shells fall around him, is an act of psychological resistance.

Arrow

Arrow’s transformation is the most dramatic. Her internal monologue reveals deep self-loathing and guilt. She struggles with the moral cost of her actions. By the novel’s end, Arrow’s defiance is not just against the enemy, but against the dehumanization that war demands.

Dragan

Dragan’s psychological journey is marked by fear and nostalgia. He grieves not only for people lost, but for the city itself. Through small acts of kindness, he begins to heal and accept the possibility of a future beyond war.

Kenan

Kenan’s anxiety is a constant presence, but so is his sense of duty. His arc is an affirmation of courage and resilience. He learns to accept and even embrace the burdens he carries.

Emina

Emina’s psychological strength is in her steadiness. She faces loss with grace. She refuses to let fear dictate her actions, choosing to nurture instead.

Nermin

Nermin’s psychological conflict revolves around the ethics of command. He must make decisions that endanger lives. His empathy sets him apart from more ruthless leaders.

Conclusion: The Collective Portrait

"The Cellist of Sarajevo" is a novel of intersecting lives. Its characters embody different responses to war—artistic defiance, moral struggle, communal resilience, and ordinary courage. The city itself is a character, shaped and sustained by those who choose hope over despair.

Each major character, through their arc and relationships, offers a perspective on survival and humanity. The cellist, Arrow, Dragan, Kenan, and Emina form a tapestry of resistance. Their stories remind readers that even in the darkest times, compassion, hope, and integrity endure. Through their experiences, Galloway crafts a meditation on the costs of war and the power of small acts to restore faith in humanity.