The Role and Functions of Family in Ishmael Beah’s Life
Ishmael Beah’s memoir entitled A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier (2007) tells the tale of a child soldier from Sierra Leone. After his family dies when the Revolutionary United Front (RUF) invaded their village, Beah’s last resort is to become part of the Sierra Leone Armed Forces as child soldier. With his ability to execute the prisoners of war, Beah becomes a child lieutenant. However, this position leads to further trouble because he becomes exposed to drugs, violence, and other vices. As a result, he suffers from drug withdrawal that leads to psychological and emotional devastation. However, several individuals come to his aid, such as Uncle Tommy, Nurse Esther, and Laura Simms. …show more content…
When they meet each other, Uncle Tommy tells Beah, “I am sorry I never came to see you all those years. I wish I had met you before today. But we can’t go back now. We just have to start from here. I am sorry for your losses. Leslie told me everything” (207). This dialogue of Beah’s uncle shows that there is hope in the midst of destruction and aloneness. Uncle Tommy serves as Beah’w new hope for the future because the old man shows how he wants to experience new life with the protagonist. Through Uncle Tommy, the main character finds a new home and family after all his struggles as a child soldier. This means that aside from the stranger Nurse Esther who serves as his mother throughout his treatment process, Uncle Tommy exists as one of Beah’s sources of power to move forward and achieve his destiny of better future. Despite of his skepticism, Beah finds refuge from his long lost uncle who he treats as a family until the old man dies. Therefore, Beah obtains another home, aside from Nurse Esther, which encourages him to see a clearer path of his
Ishmael Beah’s memoir entitled A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier (2007) tells the tale of a child soldier from Sierra Leone. After his family dies when the Revolutionary United Front (RUF) invaded their village, Beah’s last resort is to become part of the Sierra Leone Armed Forces as child soldier. With his ability to execute the prisoners of war, Beah becomes a child lieutenant. However, this position leads to further trouble because he becomes exposed to drugs, violence, and other vices. As a result, he suffers from drug withdrawal that leads to psychological and emotional devastation. However, several individuals come to his aid, such as Uncle Tommy, Nurse Esther, and Laura Simms. …show more content…
When they meet each other, Uncle Tommy tells Beah, “I am sorry I never came to see you all those years. I wish I had met you before today. But we can’t go back now. We just have to start from here. I am sorry for your losses. Leslie told me everything” (207). This dialogue of Beah’s uncle shows that there is hope in the midst of destruction and aloneness. Uncle Tommy serves as Beah’w new hope for the future because the old man shows how he wants to experience new life with the protagonist. Through Uncle Tommy, the main character finds a new home and family after all his struggles as a child soldier. This means that aside from the stranger Nurse Esther who serves as his mother throughout his treatment process, Uncle Tommy exists as one of Beah’s sources of power to move forward and achieve his destiny of better future. Despite of his skepticism, Beah finds refuge from his long lost uncle who he treats as a family until the old man dies. Therefore, Beah obtains another home, aside from Nurse Esther, which encourages him to see a clearer path of his