Analysis Of Ishmael Beah And All Quiet On The Civil War

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Fear, an emotion caused by the belief that someone or something is dangerous, likely to cause pain, or a threat, a feeling that no one wants to go through on a serious level. Imagine suddenly waking up to the sounds of gunshots and bombs without warning or constantly being surrounded by formidable men bearing guns. These experiences were not unusual for Ishmael Beah, the author of the book A Long Way Gone, and Paul Baumer, the protagonist of All Quiet on the Western Front by Erich Remarque. Both books are based off a war; however, All Quiet on the Western Front is based off Paul’s involvement in WWI and A Long Way Gone is about Ishmael’s exposure to the civil war within Sierra Leone. Although the books are different in content, they both show …show more content…

People claim they know what it feels like, but understanding this type of fear takes first-hand experience. Ishmael and Paul both experienced countless cases of fearing the loss of a family member or a close friend. As a matter of fact, Ishmael had this fear throughout almost the entire book, starting when he heard the news that his hometown, Mogbwemo, had been attacked by the rebels. However, he was still with his brother, Junior, in Mattru Jong at this time of major crisis (Beah 9.)”My heart pounded and my breathing intensified,” Ishmael quoted as he were desperately searching for his family on the long road back to their town. Little did he know that he would no longer lay eyes on his mother, father or little brother again. Paul also faces a fear of separation while he is on the train with Kropp after they both got injured (Remarque 249.)When he finds out Kropp is feverish, he knows he needs to fake a temperature in order to get off at the next train stop with him. Though Ishmael’s fear was seemingly more significant, in either case it is very terrifying losing family or friends, granted for Paul his friends were temporary family at the

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