A Long Way Gone
Author: Ishmael Beah
Ishmael Beah is separate from his family and serving with his fellow peers in the war. Struggling to survive and running from rebels was something that Ishmael was beginning to get use to. A good day for him was when he had little money to buy himself some food. Ishmael was learning survival tactics from trial and error. Ishmael began losing important people to him when attacks on the village became more common. This was just the beginning of him getting himself into the war.
Multiple themes are portrayed throughout this novel and the one that continues to catch my attention is loneliness. When Ishmael is examined by the chief, he is cold hearted and looks at the children as if they are off springs of Satan. "I gave him half a smile, which he dismissed by spitting on the ground from the kola nut he chewed. His voice was hoarse." (pg. 66). Ishmael has been separated from his family and force to run and live on his own, sure a long the way he had his friends but he began to lose them when attacks on villages became more common. He was experiencing the feeling of being alone, he had no one but himself. He had no love, the chief showed no sympathy or care towards the children. The feeling of being on his own was prevalent when he had to explain his music and why he rapped with his friends. ", we examined the rope marks on our wrists and laughed about what had happened to avoid crying." (pg. 68). Ishmael and his friends were alone and on their own and the incident with the chief was just proof they were all on their own, they could only protect themselves. The feeling of being alone taught Ishmael how to survive on his own.
Being alone can cause multiple reactions in a person. For example, sometimes loneliness causes people to just forget the important things in life. Connecting this to the lovely bones, when the main character dies, her family doesn't know how to live a normal day, they don't know what to do with out her. Loneliness portrayed in this novel motivated Ishmael to continue to try to survive and overcome the obstacles he came in contact with.
Jake, you never disappoint me. One blog after another. Each one just leaves me in awe. You are absolutely right that he was starting to learn survival tactics. He is starting to adapt to his surroundings. Also very good connection. I would have never thought of that myself. But you are right, the loneliness definitely motivated him to get to his family.
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