Bosnian Chronicle: Analysis of Major Characters
The "Bosnian Chronicle: Analysis of Major Characters" delves into the intricate relationships and contrasting personalities that populate a remote Balkan town during the Ottoman Empire's rule. Central to the narrative is Jean Baptiste-Étienne Daville, a French consul who embodies the struggle for civility in a politically charged environment, balancing his admiration for Napoleon with the challenges posed by local power dynamics. His counterpart, Josef von Mitterer, the Austrian consul, is characterized by his efficiency and sense of duty, albeit at the cost of personal warmth, creating a nuanced diplomatic rivalry with Daville.
The Turkish viziers play pivotal roles in the story, with Mehmed-Pasha serving as a polite yet complex figure, and his successor Ibrahim-Pasha presenting a starkly different, more challenging diplomatic partner. Ali-Pasha, another vizier, stands out for his harsh rule, emphasizing the brutal realities of power while maintaining a facade of diplomacy. Complementing these characters is Madame Daville, whose resilience and nurturing spirit provide a moral anchor amidst the chaos. Lastly, Amédée Chaumette des Fossés and César d'Avenat introduce varying perspectives on diplomacy and adventure, enriching the tapestry of the region's rich cultural and political landscape. This analysis offers a glimpse into how these characters navigate their tumultuous environment, reflecting broader themes of power, duty, and human resilience.
Bosnian Chronicle: Analysis of Major Characters
Author: Ivo Andri
First published: Travnicka hronika, 1945 (Bosnian Story, 1958; better known as Bosnian Chronicle)
Genre: Novel
Locale: Travnik, Bosnia
Plot: Social realism
Time: 1806–1814
Jean Baptiste-Étienne Daville (zhahn bahp-TEEST-ayTYEHN dah-VEEL), a French consul in Travnik. As a representative of French power and civilization, Daville has the difficult task of upholding a semblance of civility in a remote Balkan town ruled by the Ottoman Empire. Caught in a constant silent struggle between the other two powers, Turkey and Austro-Hungary, he accomplishes the task adroitly but not without a price to his personal life. He writes an epic poem about Alexander the Great and adores his mentor and idol, Napoleon Bonaparte. Perhaps because of the stifling environment, but more likely because he is not exceptionally clever and gifted, he fails to develop his intellect fully and to embrace new ideas sweeping Europe. His faith in human values, however, which he saw symbolized in Napoleon, helps him to survive the fall of his idol and keep a decor of civility even when it seems out of place. After his tour of duty, he leaves Travnik battered but not defeated, saddened but not bitter, and content with a job well done.
Josef von Mitterer, an Austrian consul in Travnik. Daville's counterpart, von Mitterer is made of a different fiber. Capable and efficient, with an unerring sense of purpose, and polite but unemotional, he accomplishes his task unwaveringly. Even though he realizes that Daville represents Western values similar to his own, von Mitterer seems to enjoy sparring with his French partner. Lacking the inner life and mental agility of his French partner and conditioned by his military upbringing and diplomatic vocation, he sacrifices human qualities to his sense of duty and expediency.
Mehmed-Pasha, the first of the Turkish viziers. A former slave from Georgia who climbed his way to a high position in the Turkish hierarchy thanks to his natural abilities, Mehmed-Pasha never forgets the power that he serves and represents, yet he always shows a friendly face and a smile, which hide his real thoughts and feelings. When Mehmed-Pasha is replaced after an internal struggle at the Turkish court, Daville feels a personal loss of a polite partner with whom he could talk and do business.
Ibrahim-Pasha, Mehmed-Pasha's replacement as a vizier, the exact opposite of his predecessor and much more difficult to work with. He is beset by various illnesses, “a walking ruin,” morose and ill-willed most of the time, and surrounded by a similarly dispositioned group of assistants (the local people call them “a museum of monsters”). Under this unpleasant veneer, Daville discovers a very unhappy man with whom he can still work.
Ali-Pasha, the third Turkish vizier, who turns out to be the worst of the three. Upon taking over, he proceeds to execute all the undesirable elements, such as thieves, gamblers, idlers, and political prisoners. Once his rule of iron hand is established, however, he becomes polite and even seemingly friendly with the two Western consuls. At the same time, neither he nor the other viziers ever forget that the power that they serve cannot hold foreign territories without the rule of an iron fist.
Madame Daville, the French consul's wife. Small and frail in appearance, she is a dedicated wife and a determined helper in her husband's difficult task. Her practicality and strong religious beliefs make it easier for her to overcome various misfortunes, such as the loss of a child for lack of medical help. Her gentle nature of simple yet true nobility serves as a beacon of devotion and reason in the midst of a primitive and often hostile environment. She is the most redeeming character in the novel.
Amédée Chaumette des Fossés (ah-may-DAY shoh-MEHT day foh-SAY), Daville's assistant. Des Fossés represents a new breed of French diplomats. Much more flexible and open to changes, practical, and expedient, he is better suited for the rough-and-tumble world of power politics.
César d'Avenat (say-ZAHR dah-veh-NAH), called Davna, the vizier's doctor and interpreter. An adventurer and connoisseur of people, Davna is the most colorful, even if a less important, character in the novel. Born in Italy of French parentage, he travels to many places and serves many masters. Travnik, with its plethora of races and its international intrigue, becomes a perfect stage for him.