In Chapter 13 of The Bronze Bow, why does Daniel visit the cave?
It is actually in Chapter 14 that Daniel returns to the cave.
Daniel has been living in the village so that he can care for his sister Leah now that their grandmother has died. He had not wanted to leave Rosh and his band, but had had no choice. For weeks he had managed to sublimate his desire to return to the cave, having "been able to deal with his restlessness, push it down out of sight, hammer it out with great blows on the anvil." A conversation with Leah rekindles his burning desire to return to the mountain; his longing "seize(s) him with the strength of a hundred demons." Leah, in her innocent way, asks Daniel what a wedding is, if the soldier who comes to the shop is a Roman, and if he is, if he is their master. Leah's queries remind Daniel of his intense hatred of...
Unlock This Answer Now
Start your 48-hour free trial and get ahead in class. Boost your grades with access to expert answers and top-tier study guides. Thousands of students are already mastering their assignments—don't miss out. Cancel anytime.
Already a member? Log in here.
the Romans, who killed his father and caused the death of his mother, leaving Leah traumatized and unable to function in the everyday world. He is obsessed once again with a longing for vengeance, and, telling Leah brusquely that he will be away that night, heads towards the hills and the cave that houses Rosh and his rebel band (Chapter 14).
In "The Bronze Bow", why does Daniel visit the cave and what does he miss afterward?
Daniel has missed being with Rosh and his merry band of zealots. He didn't want to leave his comrades behind, but as he had to take care of Leah, he had no choice. But all the time he spent away from them, he was itching to head back to their cave hideout at the earliest opportunity.
When Leah casually refers to a Roman soldier who visited the shop, Daniel's hatred for the occupier is immediately rekindled. He's reminded once more of why he became a zealot in the first place. It was the Romans who were responsible for the deaths of his parents; it is because of them that Leah's so traumatized and psychologically damaged. Daniel has tried hard to suppress his desires to return to the cave, but he can no longer resist them.
Yet no sooner has he returned, than Daniel is already starting to miss his good friends Joel and Malthace. Because Daniel doesn't just need the comradeship of the other zealots, he needs the love and friendship of Joel and Malthace, which in due course will come to take on even greater significance.
Towards the end of Chapter 7, Daniel tests his strength and decides that it is time to leave Joel's house. Daniel mentions that he had got what he came for in regards to Joel choosing to join Rosh's band by making a vow. With Joel on board, Daniel decides to climb the mountain and go back to the cave to bring the good news about his recruit to Rosh. In Chapter 8, Daniel returns to the cave and is treated like a hero by Rosh's men for a few days. After the initial greetings are over, Daniel remembers Joel and Malthace and the pact that they made in the tight space at Joel's house. Daniel misses their conversations about Israel's past heroes and the comfort their presence gave him. Daniel longs to return to the village to spend time with Joel and Malthace. Their friendship gave him a feeling that he had never experienced before and Daniel cannot wait to leave the mountain again.