Yes, it’s true: I haven’t written a blog in almost three months. Usually I like to write at least one per month, but summer laziness got to me, as well as other preoccupations in my mind. Not only that! These past several months I had been working on a short story – the most complicated one, I think, that I’ve ever written. Before writing it, I had re-read past short stories I’ve written and saw that they were mainly linear, traditional. That has got to go. Or rather, I wanted to experiment with different frameworks of story -telling; that is, I wanted to play around with perspective/point of view, in a way that was accommodating to the message I wanted to get across in this next short story that I’ve been working on.
It is entitled, “The Secrets That I’ve Saved Her,” and was birthed from multiple sources of inspiration. The first of which was an underrated song by Jason Mraz called, “Happy Ending” (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ciIGrV1-G1o). I highly recommend that you give it a listen if you really want to get into the mood of the story. While the song makes references to the tale of William Tell in a way that highlights a relationship between a man and a woman (rather than a father and son, like the tale was), I could not help but picture the personality of the woman being described in that song. Before telling you more about the song, I should probably give you the gist of what the tale of William Tell is about.
In Switzerland seven hundred years ago, or so, there was an unjust, harsh ruler, named Gessler. He set in the market place a pole, ontop of which was a hat. Those who passed the pole by would have to bow to the hat to show loyalty and respect to Gessler. One day, William Tell, who was known for his skill with the crossbow, as well as steering ships, was walking with his son in that very marketplace; but, when he saw the hat, he didn’t bow down. Immediately he was arrested by soldiers under the command of Gessler. When Gessler himself showed up, he gave William Tell an ultimatum: Tell was to shoot an apple off the head of his son. If he did that successfully, he would be free of charges. Tell was overcome with disbelief, but took the challenge nevertheless. Within a few moments, the apple was split in half: Tell had successfully shot the apple. However, he had with him two arrows, the first of which was to shoot the apple. But what was the second one for? Gessler demanded to know. William Tell admitted that if he accidentally killed his son, he would use the second one to kill Gessler for revenge. Gessler was outraged and demanded to his guards that Tell be imprisoned in the island across the sea, separated from his son.
Promptly, the guards and Gessler himself embarked on the journey to bring Tell (who was tied down) to the island, when suddenly a storm ensued. The guards, knowing that Tell is very good with boat-steering, told Gessler that they should release Tell so that he can safely get the boat across the sea to the island. Reluctantly Gessler agreed and they released Tell. However, William Tell took advantage of that. While pretending to steer, he suddenly jumped off the boat onto a rock, leaving the guards and Gessler in the hands of the storm. From afar, Tell killed Gessler with his bow and arrow.
He had freed his people from the brutal rule of Hermann Gessler, and was seen as a hero who will forever love his son.
So that’s the legend of William Tell in a nut shell. Probably not one hundred percent accurate, but you get the general picture. Although the legend emphasizes Tell’s love for his child, Jason’s song emphasizes the love a man has for a woman, his lover. And that is the kind of love I was aiming for in the short story. Well . . . sorta.
Another source of inspiration was this idea of secrets, a concept that has been barraging me these past several months, with a fury. It has given me added stress, so I decided to take that and make use of it creatively through this short story. Everyone has secrets because everyone lives a little with implicitness. The past may hold cavities for secrets to grow in, or to just simply die in. That’s what I’ve learned these past few months (all this may sound highly suspicious but you need not worry). Therefore, one of the main themes I’ve embedded in this short story is the notion of keeping secrets. And quite frankly sometimes secrets and the spreading of them are fueled by judgments and ignorance. Likewise, I’ve decided to make another of the more important themes of this short story about the act of criticizing oneself and others because of judgements. Not to mention the act of surpassing judgements by dealing with the good that’s in front of you. Judgements have been made already, and the damage from criticism has already hurt.
So, that’s all I’ll say about “The Secrets That I’ve Saved Her.” Don’t want to spoil anything. I'm posting the actual short story in my next blog because if I post it here, this blog would seem extremely long. So anyway, I hope you enjoy reading it and finding meaning from within your own interpretation of it.
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