Long Way Gone Character Analysis

319 Words2 Pages
Nicole Mudannayake Ishmael, the main character in A Long Way Gone, a novel by Ishmael Beah, proves himself to be happy, violent, and traumatized before, during, and after the war because Ishmael has gone through so much during his childhood. Initially, Ishmael was jubilant when his brother, friends, and himself set out for Mattru Jong for a talent show, not knowing of what would lie in their journey ahead. As they walked along “...We chatted about all kinds of things, mocked and chased each other.”(7) At this point of his life, he had no apprehension. Family and friends are there for him and he doesn’t have to question reality. Ishmael is inspired by music and excited to preform. After he is recruited and becomes a child soldier, Ishmael turns into a ruthless killer when his friends Musa and Josiah get killed in their first battle. Ishmael truly becomes a child soldier when, “...I stopped to change magazines and saw my two young lifeless friends, I angrily pointed my gun into the swamp and killed more people.”(119) Everytime he was reminded of his friends deaths, he got a shot of anger and adrenaline that caused him to feel anesthetized to killing. After his rehabilitation in the Benin House, Ishmael is resilient when Esther comforts him. Ismael starts to rehabilitated as Esther willingly talks to him. “None of this is your fault.” Esther knew that Ishmael acted all tough like he didn’t care, but she knew that she could get him to let go of all that has happened, or at least forgive himself for all that has happened. “...I began that day to believe it.” Esther was a huge part of his rehabilitation because she really did care for him. Therefore, throughout this work, Ishmael displays happiness, violence, and trauma from his childhood, through the war, and in hi remembrance of his action as a child soldier.
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