William Tell was a folk hero of Switzerland, whose exploits are chronicled in various medieval accounts. According to legend, he was a powerful and superb marksman of the crossbow who used his prowess to kill the Austrian usurper to Swiss autonomy, Gessler, making him a powerful symbol of Swiss patriotism in the post-Napoleonic era. Whether fable or truth, his story is known by any schoolchild. When he refused to pledge allegiance to Gessler, Gessler condemned him to death, but gave him an out: if he could shoot an apple off the head of his young son, Walter, he might go free. William Tell did so successfully, but he had removed two arrows from his quiver – in case he killed Walter, he would have immediately killed Gessler as well. This angers Gessler so much that he takes William prisoner; our hero escapes, naturally, and eventually assassinates the evildoer. While celebrated in poetry, plays, books and movies, the most enduring tribute comes from Rossini’s opera, which gave us the “William Tell Overtureâ€, which became the theme music for the fictional “Lone Rangerâ€. Sic transit gloria mundi.
