Baeh's Reflection of Childhood and War

Paper Summary:

This paper discusses and reviews the book, "A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier," written by Ishmael Baeh. The paper shows how the text effectively serves to address the western perspective that war is a normal event for the African child. The paper relates that the book discounts this position by showing the deep psychological damage levied on such children as Baeh.

From the Paper:

"That Baeh would even live to tell his story is among the most incredible aspects of the text. That he could do it with such frankness, openness and forgiveness--most of all to himself--would be the distinguishing feature of the work and its author. There is little question in reflection for the reader that Baeh's experience would become devastatingly normal and necessary for survival, marking him not as a villain but as one who has been exploited. His story represents ably and movingly the crime committed upon countless children, robbed of innocence, youth and--so often--life by the call to arms. Ultimately, the author commands empathy for so effectively conveying this point, provoking the reader to a greater awareness of the manner in which children are victimized by the terrible strains of war. In a kill-or-be-killed scenario, it is only appropriate that one who has killed such as has Baeh has be forgiven for his will to survive."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Baeh, I. (2007). A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier. Farrar, Giroux & Strauss.

More papers on Baeh's Reflection of Childhood and War:

• Term Paper # 104604 : "The Construction of Childhood and the Child"
• Analytical Essay # 119336 : "A Reflection of Self and Poe"
• Research Paper # 54295 : "Treatment of Childhood and Adolescent Conduct Problems"

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