The Importance Of Family In First They Killed My Father

In Loung Ung’s memoir, First They Killed My Father, the role of family was an important theme throughout the Cambodian genocide. The memoir shows how the importance of family was the only way to stay alive throughout the war because without each other they would not have been able to survive. On April 1975, Ung and her family were forced out of their hometown by the Khmere Rouge. Loung’s father helped the family escape the city and ordered them what to do, while, Kim, Meng, and Khoy sacrificed to bring food back to the family. Loung and Chou stuck together through the rough times in the children work camp, whereas the mother stuck with Geak to help her survive. On April 17, 1975, Loung’s father and mother told the children to pack important belongings with them such as food, clothes, pots, pans, towels, soap, and much more. The Khmer Rouge wanted everyone to evacuate the city. Fortunately, they had a vehicle and her father ordered everyone to get in the truck to escape the city as quickly as possible. Ung says, “From up our truck we hear the booming, roars of cars, trucks, and motorcycles, the …show more content…
The chief’s two boys seemed to like Kim, but not so much. Kim says, “They boss me around and I always have to do jobs and errands for tem, but look what they gave me! They said that from now on I can take leftovers home” (Ung 63). He brought home rice and meat for his family, which has been the biggest feast for them since they left their hometown. Although, Kim is struggling just to bring this food to his family. He comes home with red marks on his face and his body because the boys at the job abuses him. Ung mentions, “However, at ten years old, Kim knows he has to endure their cruelty to help feed his family. Each morning as he walks off to the chief’s house, Ma watches and whispers my poor little monkey” (Ung