Title :
The Bronze Bow
Author :
Elizabeth George Speare
Publisher
: HMCo
Age : Young Adult
In the
times when incidents inspired by hate outnumber the ones driven by love and affection,
when compassion seems to be running low in our hearts, when patience is looked
down upon as a tool of meek and weak and when display of aggression seems to be
the new and modern flavor, it is extremely essential to go back to the
priceless teachings of the enlightened souls who graced the Earth with their
divine presence. And what better time than around Christmas - the festival of
light, which symbolizes happiness and merriment.
Daniel
bar Jamin happens to witness the crucifixion of his father by Roman soldiers.
Taking revenge by driving the Roman dominion out of the land of Israel becomes
his only motto in life. Harboring deep hatred in his heart, he joins the band
of an outlaw who resides in the hills outside the city limits. Forced by
circumstances post his grandmother's death, he finds himself to be the only one
who now needs to take care of his sister. But while living in the village he
establishes a group of like minded guerrillas with sole mission of taking
revenge. Fired by hatred, he fails to see and acknowledge tender feelings of
his sister Leah, his friend Joel and Joel's sister Malthace.
There is
one thing which empowers him and provides solace to his agitated nerves always
and that is the Song of David
"God
is my safe refuge,
And has
made my way safe.
He made
my feet like hind's feet,
And set
me secure on the heights.
He trains
my hands for war,
So that
my arms can bend a bow of bronze."
and
Malthace beautifully interprets the meaning as - When God strengthens us, we
can do anything that seems impossible.
While he
nurtured the hatred towards Romans passionately in his heart, teachings of
Jesus of Nazareth had some other message to convey. Calm demeanor of Jesus
always attracted Daniel but his words 'It is the hate that is the enemy, not
men. Hate does not die with killing. It only springs up a hundredfold. The only
thing stronger than hate is love', made Daniel's whole fabric of being shake.
He always found hatred and feeling of vengeance so much closer to him that
imagining his self devoid of these two was almost impossible for him. But after
having experienced the pain of losing two of his dear ones with his own sword
of hatred and after having pushed his sister to life threatening isolation
again, he could finally understand the true meaning of David's words - 'He
trains my hands for war, so that my arms can bend a bow of bronze' - that
perhaps only love could bend the bow of bronze.
"The
only chains that matter are fear and hate because they chain our souls. If we
do not hate anyone and do not fear anyone then we are free."
The scene
here is set in Jerusalem at the time of Christ. Author beautifully conveys
Jesus's message of peace amidst chaos, hatred, violence, pain and distress
through the story of Daniel. It is indeed a moving and sensitive tale to
emphasize that no matter how big and dear revenge and hatred appear to be,
forgiveness and love pave the way for actual deliverance.
'The
Bronze Bow' is the winner of the 1962 Newbery Medal
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