Symbolism In A Long Way Gone

“Symbolism exists to adorn and enrich, not to create an artificial sense of profundity,” was once said by Stephen King. Symbolism is very effective as it allows writers to add many layers of meaning to their work, by making their characters and themes more universal, and by sparking the reader's interest. In his literary work, A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier, Ishmael Beah uses symbols to underscore his central theme of oppression and/or freedom. First of all, he uses dreams to show the many challenges he faced throughout his life and journey through Sierra Leone. Secondly, Ishmael uses his cassettes to symbolize past memories throughout his childhood and the good times they brought. Last of all, Ishmael uses the moon/sky as a symbol of hope, wholeness, positivity, and freedom.

Firstly, Ishmael Beah uses dreams as a symbol to underscore the central theme of oppression and/or freedom. After he experiences the first acts of violence against his own village, Ishmael starts to have nightmares of people being killed and even himself being killed. After his first occurring nightmare, he tells us that he is "afraid to sleep for fear that [his] suppressed thoughts would appear in [his] dreams." (8.10) He's constantly dreaming about the dangerous …show more content…
First of all, he uses dreams to show the many struggles he faced throughout his life and journey through Sierra Leone. Secondly, Ishmael uses his cassettes to symbolize his past childhood and the good things they brought. Last of all, Ishmael uses the moon/sky as a symbol of hope, wholeness, positivity, and freedom. Virginia Foxx once said, “The American flag is the most recognized symbol of freedom and democracy in the world,” and just like The American Flag, Ishmael Beah uses his own personal symbols to show highlight the true meaning of