Rehabilitation is painful. Individuals are consumed with frustration, withdrawal, and anguish. In the memoirs, Bite of the Mango and A Long Way Gone, both narrators, Ishmael and Mariatu, experience this agonizing escape from addiction and trauma. Fortunately, they are blessed with the kindness of social workers and nurses that provide them with opportunities to live a life of purpose. Those who assisted both victims inform them of their circumstances and the condition of their country; these realizations accelerate both narrators into adulthood. Without rehabilitation, Ishmael and Mariatu would not have come to terms with the traumatic events they have experienced and the innocence they have lost. Ishmael and Mariatu are both young children
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In Paul Kenny’s JNeurci article, he explains this process. It is most clearly seen in cocaine addicts. When these patients have been sober for a significant amount of time they began to feel remorseful towards their actions. Many feel for their families and friends that are affected by their addiction. Their cognitive outlook on life changes (Kenny, Rehab Behavior). Kenny’s observation of the drug addiction patients explains how the consumption of drugs can conceal an individual’s compassion towards those their addictions are affecting. This provides an explanation as to why Ishmael lacked compassion and remorse against his victims. It also further displays Ishmael’s ignorance towards the negative effects of drug …show more content…
Even Ishmael, who was in the government army, was driven to kill in order to avenge the deaths of his family. After rehabilitation, he realizes his motives behind his violent service in the army: It was not easy being a soldier, but we just had to do it. I have been rehabilitated now so don’t be afraid of me. I am not a soldier anymore; I am a child. We are all brothers and sisters. What I have learned from my experiences is that revenge is not good. I joined the army to avenge the deaths of my family and to survive, but I’ve come to learn that if I am going to take revenge, in that process I will kill another person whose family will want revenge; then revenge and revenge and revenge will never come to an end.
In Paul Kenny’s JNeurci article, he explains this process. It is most clearly seen in cocaine addicts. When these patients have been sober for a significant amount of time they began to feel remorseful towards their actions. Many feel for their families and friends that are affected by their addiction. Their cognitive outlook on life changes (Kenny, Rehab Behavior). Kenny’s observation of the drug addiction patients explains how the consumption of drugs can conceal an individual’s compassion towards those their addictions are affecting. This provides an explanation as to why Ishmael lacked compassion and remorse against his victims. It also further displays Ishmael’s ignorance towards the negative effects of drug …show more content…
Even Ishmael, who was in the government army, was driven to kill in order to avenge the deaths of his family. After rehabilitation, he realizes his motives behind his violent service in the army: It was not easy being a soldier, but we just had to do it. I have been rehabilitated now so don’t be afraid of me. I am not a soldier anymore; I am a child. We are all brothers and sisters. What I have learned from my experiences is that revenge is not good. I joined the army to avenge the deaths of my family and to survive, but I’ve come to learn that if I am going to take revenge, in that process I will kill another person whose family will want revenge; then revenge and revenge and revenge will never come to an end.