Terror

Terrorism as a method of intimidating individuals or communities or coercing them to behave in an intended fashion is not a modern invention and is encountered throughout Ivo Andrić's The Bridge on the Drina. The Ottoman practice of requiring "blood tribute" from the raya—conquered Christian subjects—clearly terrorizes the people of Bosnia. During the building of the bridge, Abidaga struts about with his green staff, which becomes a potent symbol of the suffering that strikes anyone who malingers on the job. Abidaga terrorizes his security chief, the "Man from Plevlje" by threatening to impale him if he fails within three days to capture the saboteurs. He spends sleepless nights obsessing about his fate and in turn threatens his staff with a horrible death unless they deliver the culprit. In supervising the torture and impalement of Radisav of Unište and leaving him displayed to...