The Wound and the Bow

"The Wound and the Bow" by David Malouf explores how suffering shapes human resilience and hope. It uses the metaphor of a wound—an injury or loss—to represent pain, and the bow—an instrument of tension and release—to symbolize how we cope and find meaning. The essay suggests that our wounds, while painful, can lead to personal growth when transformed into strength, much like the tension in a bow enables it to shoot an arrow. Ultimately, it highlights that vulnerability and hardship are integral to human experience, pushing us toward renewal and deeper understanding.