A Long Way Gone Analysis Essay Example

by the terrible acts he witnessed and suffered. Though he was around other boys, trust was hard to come by, leading to frequent threats of death and rejection from villages on their journey. For Ishmael, simply surviving became his daily goal after losing his home, family, and most friends. Nevertheless, despite these challenges, Ishmael persisted in his efforts to escape the horrors of war that had forced him into participation.

Enlisting in the army was his only choice after a traumatic experience that left his family murdered and seeking revenge. The unbearable past experiences of a teenage boy led to excessive drug use, causing mental and physical deterioration and distorting reality. Despite knowing the damaging effects of drugs on soldiers, the army continued administering them for their own advantage.

The purpose of developing the drug brown-brown was to enhance children's aggressive behavior and induce unpredictable actions. Its combination with other drugs enabled them to stay awake for extended periods without sleep. For many kids in Sierra Leone, their existence revolved around war, substance abuse and viewing violent movies, leading to a lack of childhood experiences. This is a frequent happening and child soldiers go through severe psychological trauma which can be almost unbearable. Upon leaving their violent surroundings, they have to face the consequences of their actions throughout the years - a challenge that can prove even more difficult than being amid warfare.

Overcoming withdrawal symptoms from potent drugs would be difficult for Ishmael, especially as he was accustomed to having an unlimited supply. Furthermore, he has acknowledged that he became a killing machine without awareness and is troubled by the guilt of mercilessly taking lives of those

in similar circumstances, which disturbs his sleep. Given these horrifying memories and images, one might wonder how Ishmael recuperated from his encounters and resumed a normal state.

The war-torn surroundings of Sierra Leone were vastly different from our own environment, with no rules of engagement or repercussions for soldiers' actions resulting in total anarchy during the civil war. Despite experiencing a traumatic childhood, Ishmael was able to emerge mentally sound and continue living a content life, which is truly remarkable. What sets Ishmael apart in the novel is his ability to recall day-to-day details even years after the events took place, including memories from early childhood and experiences while under the influence of mind-altering drugs.

The author faced challenges in writing the book, as memories of a tragic past made it difficult. However, this adds to the significance of the work because the author felt it was crucial for global attention to be brought to and solutions found for issues affecting African children.