A Long Walk To Water Character Analysis

In A Long Walk to Water, Salva is forced to flee and leave his family behind when the war reaches Salva’s village. As Salva and the rest of the group heads east toward Ethiopia, Salva wonders where his family is and hopes to find them. When Salva comes across his uncle one morning, he is astonished, and the hope that he had lost within that month of escaping comes rushing back. Even though Uncle Jewiir does not know where his family is, Salva is still glad to see him. During the months it took for them to get from Southern Sudan to Ethiopia, Uncle played a crucial role in Salva’s life as his mentor, protector, and role model. Uncle Jewiir also provides guidance, support, and a sense of security in a time of hardship and uncertainty. Throughout

On their journey to the Itang refugee camp in Ethiopia, Uncle Jewiir is a constant source of hope, courage, and strength. He provides Salva with a sense of security, belonging, and stability. When Salva first encounters his uncle, the hope that he once had comes back little by little (Park 34). Although he still does not know where the rest of his family is, his uncle’s presence gives him hope that the rest of his family is safe and that he will be able to find them one day, just like how he finds his uncle. Amidst the uncertainty they face as they navigate through the war-torn Sudan, Uncle Jewiir’s presence also reassures Salva. Uncle’s positivity, encouragement, and unwavering support allows Salva to endure the obstacles and hardships that they face, such as the endless and physically and emotionally draining walks, the unreliable food and water supply, and losing the only friend he made, Marial. Additionally, Uncle Jewiir’s encouragement is crucial for Salva to persevere. For example, when Salva feels like giving up on the first day of walking through the desert, Uncle motivates him to keep going, and without Uncle’s support, Salva would have died from exhaustion, dehydration, and heat (Park