A Long Way Gone Analysis

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“During Sierra Leone’s civil war there was an estimated ten thousand child soldiers fighting for the rebels or the government” (Inter Press Service). These unfortunate children lost their childhood; they still have flashbacks of what they witnessed in war today. During the 1990s, tensions in government sparked a rebellion which used child soldiers, who asked themselves what really matters in life regarding faith and conflict, which connects back to our novel. Beginning, Sierra Leone has a harsh history with warfare, outside invaders, and government. The West African region was composed centuries ago by tribes, mainly the Temne and Mende. Eventually, these groups unite during the later war to fight against the rebels. After the region thrived, the Europeans came in 1462 and took advantage of Sierra Leone’s trading centers. Years later Britain captured the capital, Freetown, and imposed a hut tax that caused …show more content…

Between my sources it is seen that both sides in war used child soldiers. The soldiers today face flashbacks, migraines, and regret, like Ishmael from “A Long Way Gone”. After spending years in war Ishmael had used the drugs to ease his pain, but during rehab it all came back. He couldn’t sleep because of the images of war that ran through his head, he experienced horrible migraines from becoming sober, and he regretted joining the war to avenge his family. Also, it is shown that because of the war, Sierra Leone suffered great losses agriculturally, politically, and economically. The rebels fighting caused people to migrate, resulting in a decrease in agricultural production, poor leadership, and poverty. This can be seen in my novel when the rebels took Ishmael’s village and caused its people to migrate, leaving the village as a ghost town. The connections made between both my sources show how the war affected people like

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