What does the monkey represent in a Long Way Gone?
The monkey symbolizes the broken political system that encompasses both the corrupt government and the misguided rebellion that led to civilian deaths during the Sierra Leone civil war. Beah shows that it would be better to act, even with bloody consequences, so as to stop the cycle of destruction.
Why did Ishmael shoot the monkey?
Ishmael’s story concludes with his metaphorical decision to kill the monkey so that future hunters don’t face the same dilemma. As it relates to war-torn Sierra Leone, Ishmael would risk his own family if it meant future families wouldn’t have to make the same choice.
What was Ishmael’s answer to the monkey riddle?
By Ishmael Beah Before you can pull the trigger, the monkey tells you that if you kill him your mother will die. If you don’t kill him, your father will die. What do you do? This is a pretty amazing answer for a little kid.
Who are the main characters in A Long Way Gone?
A Long Way Gone Characters
- Ishmael Beah. The author and subject of the memoir.
- Junior. Beah’s brother, who accompanies Beah for the first part of his journey.
- Esther. The nurse responsible for Beah’s rehabilitation.
- Beah’s Uncle. Beah’s father’s brother.
- Laura Simms.
Why are Ishmael and his friends so adamant to run from the rebels?
Why are Ishmael and his friends so adamant to run from the rebels? They are afraid they will die like so many others. They have come to understand that if they get caught, they will become soldiers. They believe the rebels are trying to steal their souls.
How does Ishmael get to Guinea?
Ishmael takes a small bag and some money and makes his way to a bus station. He needs to get into Conakry, the capital of Guinea, where there’s no fighting and where he thinks he can get on a plane to New York. Finally, Ishmael arrives in Conakry and heads to the Sierra Leone embassy. There, he’s finally able to relax.
How does Ishmael change in A Long Way Gone?
Throughout A Long Way Gone, Ishmael Beah shares several accounts of his time as a soldier, such as the one included above. He was transformed from a child into a killing machine through a toxic combination of drugs, propaganda, and psychological manipulation.
Who died in a Long Way Gone?
Kanei, Musa, Saidu, Jumah, Alhaji, and Moriba: Ishmael’s friends from his home village whom he meets in the wilderness after being separated from his initial group. Saidu is the first of the group to die; he dies suddenly two nights after he and the other boys eat a crow that fell from the sky.
What happened to the people who could not pay the bribes a long way gone?
The AFRC and the RUF overthrew the current government (President Tejan Kabbah) in gunfire and revolts. What happened to the people who could not pay the bribes? Risked being sent back to the city if refused. Those who could not pay the bribes would have valuables taken.
How is Ishmael a victim?
Ishmael is a wonderful young man who becomes a victim of a devastating civil war in Sierra Leone. Like most other civilians, he is a victim of a terror campaign on the part of both sides of the war. Millions of civilians die in this conflict and in that way, Ishmael is lucky, because he lives.
Why is Ishmael a child soldier?
In 1991, the Sierra Leone Civil War started. Rebels invaded Beah’s hometown, Mogbwemo, located in the Southern Province of Sierra Leone, and he was forced to flee. Separated from his family, he spent months wandering south with a group of other boys. At the age of 13, he was forced to become a child soldier.