Essays on An Ordinary Man

An Ordinary Man is the story of a man who is taken captive by rebel forces in Bosnia and is forced to be a human shield. The man, whose name is never given, is a retired Serbian general who is living a peaceful life in Sarajevo with his Muslim wife and their daughter. When the Bosnian War breaks out, the family is forced to flee the city. The general is captured by the rebels and is taken to a mountain village, where he is forced to stand in front of a school that is being used as a base by the rebels. The general is treated well by the rebels and is given food and water, but he is constantly watched. One day, a group of Serbian soldiers comes to the village and the general is taken away. The general is taken to a prison camp, where he is held for two years. The general is eventually released and returns to his family. The family has lost everything in the war, but they are able to start over. The general is a changed man after his ordeal and is now more interested in the lives of others.