Our life depends on the way we live. If we take our problem as tiny as an atom it will be easy for us to solve. If we take it as vast as the ocean then it will never be resolved. The writers help us to handle some critical and complex problems through their writings. Here we have our famous critical thinking and life writing Brazilian author Paulo Coelho who never fails to present the reality of life through his novels such as "The Alchemist", "Life" and so on. "The Archer", a short story published in 2020, is one on the list. The way the Archer teaches to Tetsuya the way of the bow and way of life creates positive vibes among the readers on how to focus on the target (the destination) with courage and dedication. The story opens with a conversation with a stranger(Archer) to show his skill of archery which he learned for years and to challenge him. The first lesson Tetsuya learned from him was to do the thing rather than simply talk. Here is the proof when the archer pushed backwards the arrow and it disappeared from view. The boy returned with the arrow and it pierced a cherry that he found on the ground, forty meters away. Then Tetsuya bowed to the archer. Paulo recorded a message through the words of Tetsuya "we should never judge people without first learning to hear and to respect them." Parents always blame a teacher for the students who didn't study well and get good marks on the exams.
Here Paulo explains whom we have to blame and what the teacher's job is. He states that "Teaching isn't hard. I could do that in less than an hour........ The difficult thing is to practice it every day until you achieve the necessary precision."(p. 9) The teacher only teaches the lessons. The students have to study and practice to achieve their aims. The archer gives a valuable message to Tetsuya ".... trust your intuition and pay no attention to what anyone else may say. People always judge by taking as a model their own limitations, and other people's opinions are often full of prejudice and fear." (p. 12)
We should know what kinds of people we should have in our life. For example, people who encourage us and lift us from our sorrows are preferred to be in our life. He advises Tetsuya on finding and joining with the people who are good for his mental health to focus on his target by stating that "join with all those who experiment, take risks, fall, get hurt and then take more risks. Stay away from those who affirm truths, who criticize those who do not think like them, and who prefer certainties to doubts."(p. 12) He continues with the list of joining with the people who are flexible as a bow, who sings, tells stories, takes pleasure in life, and do their work with enthusiasm. He gives a new meaning to the bow "The bow is life: the source of all energy. The arrow will leave one day. The target is a long way off. But the bow will stay with you and you must know how to look after it."(p.15) Here the author uses the bow as a symbol of life where it is flexible and it has its limits. If we stretch it too much it will break and we should try to be in harmony with what we have and never ask for more than it can give. The arrow is another symbol that represents our intentions where it unites the strength of the bow with the center of the target and it should be clear, straight, and balanced. While teaching how to shoot an arrow he gives an incredible life message "If you never take a risk, you will never know what changes you need to make'"(p.16) Everyone has their target as the archer has in every shoot. When we focus on our targets we fail to see what is the circumstance around us, our target may be reached or may not be. If we want our target to be reached perfectly we should note down the factors which affect our target such as the untimely death of our beloved, not having enough money to pay for our livelihood, and so on. It is the same in the case of an archer while shooting his arrow he should look around and analyze the factors like wind, weight, and distance. While aiming for the target posture is important, one should have serenity and elegance to learn how to reach the target. According to Paulo serenity comes from the heart and elegance is a way in which a man can do honor to his life and his work. He further states that "....... the simpler and more sober the posture, the more beautiful'"(p.19) We should stay calm and simple in whatever positions we possess which will help us to reach greater heights. The final message of the author is "The way of the bow is the way of joy and enthusiasm, of perfection and error, of technique and instinct."(p.29) Our life is also like the way of an archer, filled with joy and enthusiasm, perfection and error, logic and instincts. Live life in the way of a bow and in the way of an archer with clear, conscious, and stable targets.
By
Gayathri Ravi
IG: @gayathry76
(A Nature Lover, Poet, Writer, Learner and an Enthusiastic Teacher. Residing in Tamil Nadu, India. Educated in Chennai, Tamil Nadu. Aspiring Teacher and learner. Believing that Being Empathetic and Positive means one is alive. The only way to learn is to live. Published in 16 anthologies, two magazines and two journals. Author of "Nature's Inhabitants" - A Poetry Collection)
