Morality In Dragan's The Cellist Of Sarajevo

The fight-or-flight response is the fundamental physiological reaction to potentially harmful or a threatening situations. Essentially it states that our bodies are programmed from birth to either fight back, or get out of harm’s way when we are in danger. In times of chaos, such as war, this fight-or-flight response can be seen in a range of ways: soldiers at the front line of battle, families hiding-out for months on end, women and children fleeing to other countries. Oftentimes, one who flees is deemed a coward, and one who fights back a hero. However, this assumption is not always true. Human nature is not the only factor that decides whether you are a coward or a hero. Personal integrity and values play a more crucial role in determining whether we fight back and act courageously,
The way one responds to terrifying situations, and the choice to act courageously is consistent with their personal moral code. The impact that one’s personal characteristics and integrity has on their actions during times of conflict can be seen throughout the novel The Cellist of Sarajevo. Particularly in Dragan, a baker who has become isolated during the war. He is forced out of his comfort zone because the war, but who he is as a person is what allows him to be courageous. Although he does not feel the need to fight back on a day to day basis, he has the courage to face the truth and reality of war and not become a person he is not. Furthermore, he has the courage to do what he believes is right. He is not a person who believes in war or corruption and will act in order to avoid it. Lastly, he is willing to face his fears in order to be loyal to his past, a time that he values. Author Steven Galloway demonstrates through Dragan that one who is compelled to be courageous will act in accordance with their sense of personal integrity in order to remain true to