"Older men declare war. But it is youth that must fight and die," said Herbert Hoover, 31st president of the United States. This quote that is still relevant today, is referring to the situations in countries such as the ones in Venezuela, Ukraine, Syria and Iraq are in today. The situations in these two books, A Long Way Gone by Ishmael Beah and The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins, are similar to the ones of these countries. The main characters, Ishmael Beah and Katniss Everdeen, are kids in a war they did not choose to be part of. War and conflict interfere with the lives of two survival-driven adolescents who will be seemingly scarred for life.
Violence and death are forced upon both Ishmael and Katniss as they observe death and at one point they kill, causing them to slowly lose their innocence. After Ismael witnesses his friends murdered by the rebel group of Sierra Leone he says, “I raised my gun and pulled the trigger… Suddenly, as if someone was shooting them inside my brain, all the massacres I had seen since the day I was touched by war, started flashing in my head” (Beah, 145). The beginning of his loss of innocence starts when he takes his first kill. Ishmael is mad, confused and in that moment, all he wants is revenge. In a like manner, Katniss lets her emotions get in the way when she kills the boy from District 1. After her friend, Rue, was killed by the boy of District 1, Katniss says the following, “Except I’d kill anyone I met on sight. Without emotion or the slightest tremor in my hand.” (Collins. 238). This is the first time they had blood on their hands and the first time they realize that even though the world seems cruel, it can get crueler. Both main characters did it to protect someone they care about, costing them their innocence. Children are sent off to combat wars they did not start; they are trained to kill and slowly, their humanity starts to turn off. Ishmael, is only seven when he gets a glimpse of war, this is the usual age kids play wit they barbie dolls and toy cars, not trying to survive. After being in warfare for a while, Ishmael says, “It was a typical aspect of being in the war. Things changed rapidly in a matter of seconds and no one had any control over anything.” (Beah, 29). In this quote, the character expresses what it is like being in a war. He says it is hard and when things seem to be getting better, they can instantly change. …show more content…
The pair want to survive for their own sake and for their family’s sake. What kept Ismael going was wondering if his family was still alive. In fact, in several occasions, Ishmael states that he is looking forward to seeing his family. In one occasion Ishmael “To survive each passing day was my goal in life… I thought about where my family was and whether they were alive” (Beah, 89). Katniss says that she has to survive for her family as well because, even though it was “slow-going at first” she was “determined to feed” them because she said she “kept [them] alive.” (Collins, 51). Both had a common goal, and that was to survive for their loved
Violence and death are forced upon both Ishmael and Katniss as they observe death and at one point they kill, causing them to slowly lose their innocence. After Ismael witnesses his friends murdered by the rebel group of Sierra Leone he says, “I raised my gun and pulled the trigger… Suddenly, as if someone was shooting them inside my brain, all the massacres I had seen since the day I was touched by war, started flashing in my head” (Beah, 145). The beginning of his loss of innocence starts when he takes his first kill. Ishmael is mad, confused and in that moment, all he wants is revenge. In a like manner, Katniss lets her emotions get in the way when she kills the boy from District 1. After her friend, Rue, was killed by the boy of District 1, Katniss says the following, “Except I’d kill anyone I met on sight. Without emotion or the slightest tremor in my hand.” (Collins. 238). This is the first time they had blood on their hands and the first time they realize that even though the world seems cruel, it can get crueler. Both main characters did it to protect someone they care about, costing them their innocence. Children are sent off to combat wars they did not start; they are trained to kill and slowly, their humanity starts to turn off. Ishmael, is only seven when he gets a glimpse of war, this is the usual age kids play wit they barbie dolls and toy cars, not trying to survive. After being in warfare for a while, Ishmael says, “It was a typical aspect of being in the war. Things changed rapidly in a matter of seconds and no one had any control over anything.” (Beah, 29). In this quote, the character expresses what it is like being in a war. He says it is hard and when things seem to be getting better, they can instantly change. …show more content…
The pair want to survive for their own sake and for their family’s sake. What kept Ismael going was wondering if his family was still alive. In fact, in several occasions, Ishmael states that he is looking forward to seeing his family. In one occasion Ishmael “To survive each passing day was my goal in life… I thought about where my family was and whether they were alive” (Beah, 89). Katniss says that she has to survive for her family as well because, even though it was “slow-going at first” she was “determined to feed” them because she said she “kept [them] alive.” (Collins, 51). Both had a common goal, and that was to survive for their loved