Bamboo People By Mitali Perkins

Tu Reh’s Character Analysis
War can change how people think and feel about different cultures. In Bamboo People by Mitali Perkins, Tu Reh is a Karenni man who has a hatred for the Burmese because of what they did to his people. The Karenni and the Burmese are at war with each other and the Burmese had burned Tu Reh’s village down without any remorse. Due to this, Tu Reh has a growing hatred for the Burmese which narrowed his views about the Burmese and prevented him from considering their thoughts and feelings. Tu Reh is changed from a rigid mindset to more of a broad mindset by his experience in finding Chiko after he had stepped on a mine and his relationship with Peh. Tu Reh is a Karenni tribe member who had experienced his village being

During their mission, they heard mines go off so Tu Reh and Peh decided to go and check the scene where they found four dead Burmese soldiers in a field and Chiko who was still alive after stepping on a makeshift mine. Peh took Chiko to a safer place to try and clean the wound and to try and prevent Chiko from bleeding out as best as he could. Peh then left it up to Tu Reh to decide what to do with Chiko now that he had helped him as best as he could but he still is on the verge of death. Peh says, “I won’t command you, my son. A Karenni man must decide for himself. Leave him for the animals. End his life now. Or carry him to the healer. It’s your choice” (149). Tu Reh’s father is leaving it up to Tu Reh to decide what to do with Chiko after Peh had carried Chiko to safety and cleaned his wounds. This left Tu Reh to have to decide if he should choose the moral option or get the revenge that he always wanted. He knows what his dad would want him to do but it would be an action against his tribe because the Burmese and the Karenni are at war. Tu Reh thinks to himself, saying, “Leave him here, Tu Reh. He’s Burmese. A soldier. They’re destroying our people, our land, our future“ (151). Tu Reh knows that he doesn’t want to help this soldier because he is Burmese but he does feel bad for him because of his situation. Chiko was around the same

Tu Reh looked up to his father and saw him as an important figure of their Karenni tribe. He knew that his father valued everyone’s lives and he didn’t just kill to kill. So when it was Tu Reh’s turn to decide whether to kill or save the soldier, Peh’s spirit led him to save the Burmese soldier which wasn’t something some Karenni tribe members would do. “‘But what kind of a man is he becoming?’ Peh asked, and he sounded worried. I could hear him crunching on the bamboo shoots Mua fries and stores as a snack. ‘A brave one like his peh,’ Mua said'' (140). Tu Reh’s dad is worried about the man that Tu Reh is becoming. Tu Reh’s grown hatred for the Burmese has messed with the relationship between Tu Reh and his dad. Tu Reh and Peh aren’t very close because his dad is an important figure in their Karenni tribe but Peh still worries about his son and wants the best for him. Tu Reh’s mom and dad have been making decisions for him but Peh decides that soon it is time for him to make his own decisions. “I Can’t help feeling pleased, despite the danger. It’s been a while since I’ve heard praise from either of my parents. Lately it’s been lectures from Mua and disappointed looks from Peh” (139). Early on in the relationship, Tu Reh feels as though his dad is disappointed in him. He understands that Peh doesn’t like that he had developed this hatred for Burmese people because it wasn’t right even though