This chapter taught us more about the past of the boys. It seemed to me that they all opened up to each other a bit more. You hear all of their stories and are horrified by each and every one of them. I found Saidu's story to be the worst because of what happened to his sisters and how he had to go through such trauma. I guess it makes sense that he would die because of all the emotional hardship, which is really an understatement, that he's been through. Saidu said it very eloquently when he talked about dying a little more each time he accepted death. I can't possibly understand what he's going through, and I don't I ever will be able to. The boys could share their stories with each other, I think, because they became a bit more comfortable with each other. Those other boys are the only ones who can comprehend what their companions are going through.
In this chapter, the villages they go through contrast sharply with the previous villages they went through because these villages didn't try to actually kill them before they even got to understand them. These villages gave them food and shelter for some nights and didn't chase them away. These villages probably haven't been affected by the war yet.
It really depressed me when Ishmael talked about his family and his memories with his families. When he talks about his family, it reminds me of my own, and I don't want to ever be in this kind of situation with my family. I don't think I could stand it. But there was a glimmer of hope offered by the lady in the village where Saidu died. She said that she has met his mother, father, and brother and that they were in the next village. If I were him, I might've left for the next village at that very moment. But I think that he didn't because he had a sense of companionship with his friends.
There seemed to be a lot of foreshadowing in this chapter. The dogs crying, the babies crying, the oppressive darkness, etc., etc. This makes me think that something really bad is going to be happening in the next chapter. I think that this probably means that Ishmael won't be reunited with his family again. I've got to say, every time a good thing happens to Ishmael, a bad thing happens to counter it. They get some smoked meat, it gets eaten by a dog. Ishmael finds companions, they become more likely to be caught by the rebels. This story makes me sadder and sadder for Ishmael every chapter.
3 comments:
I agree that it was very said when he was remembering about his family, how he described them and remembered just the little things and habits they had. I don't think that I could ever be in that situation and think so happily about the past. My mind would be stuck on the bad parts.
I agree, Saidu's story was the worst. I also agree with Scott that I would be more focussed on the bad parts, and not think about any happy past. I thought it was almost ironic how Saidu was talking about dying more and more each time, then he does die.
Great post. Unfortunately, you are right--worse is coming.
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