William Tell

The story of William Tell as I knew it was of a couple of guys, having had a few beers, decided to attempt shooting an apple off the others head.  Maybe it was off in the woods just the two of them drunk about the campfire when they pulled off the stunt, or maybe a bit more dramatic possibly it happened in front of a terrified wife or family pleading to stop just as it was realized what daring shot was actually going to be attempted amongst the late night festivities.  This is the vague idea I have held about the famed William Tell.

The true story of William Tell:

• It is the year 1307, the people of Switzerland are enduring an oppressive Austrian rule.  One day, the Austrian ruler decides to display his power by placing his hat upon a post in the Altdorf marketplace and forcing all Swiss that pass by to kneel before his hat. A man by the name of Wilhelm Tell refused to bow down to the rulers hat, and so was sentenced to death.  However, the Austrian duke had heard word of Tell's great marksmanship and so decided that it would be quite entertaining to put Tell's skill on display.  Tell was forced to shoot an apple placed on top his son's head from considerable distance.  He split the apple in two, without harm to his child.  This single arrow fired from Tells bow ignited a Swiss uprising that soon led to the country's independence from Austrian rule.  To this day, the yew tree (from which the bows of the day were made) is referred to as "Williams' tree" in Switzerland. 

Statue of Wilhelm Tell in Altdorf square, Switzerland

I learned of this true to life tale of William Tell tonight, while reading The Yew Tree, A Thousand Whispers, by Hal Hartzell, Jr. I don't' know exactly why, but in reading it I was nearly brought to tears. Maybe because it was too easy to imagine myself  in Tell's shoes looking into my son's eyes from a distance before focusing on the apple upon his head; Death and Freedom balanced on the loosing of an arrow.  Or Maybe it was the shock of learning that there was such meaning, such substance behind a Name I had heard many times, but had only simple images for, images of laughing drunken jackass daredevils, not a stoic father forced to place his son's life on the trueness of his aim, the rightness of his peoples freedom. It seems the bow and arrow have always been and always will be a symbol of Freedom, whether it be in the hand of Robin Hood, Katniss, or William Tell. The bow has often provided the spark for the fire that rises against oppressive rule.