Nature In A Long Way Gone

The Natural World

Nature gives a deep understanding of one's past and present, but it also provides a look into the future. For Ishmael Beah, in his memoir A Long Way Gone nature's omniscient power is stark throughout his journey in his teenage years. Later on, nature’s presence is able to provide him with a sense of clarity and help him through his healing journey. The natural world creates a sense of foreshadowing for Ishmael. Landscapes and natural elements such as animals and plants provide him with a driving force to continue his journey.

After traveling with a group of boys for days on end, Ishmael reaches what appears to be the Atlantic Ocean. It’s clear and blue and seems to go on for miles. It excites the boys and appears to

He is stationed there alone for two months. Within these months, Ishmael finds himself living off the land and creating a makeshift home of his own. He uses sticks to create the perimeter of his new home and finds himself positioned next to his “new neighbor, the snake” (Beah 50). He sleeps in trees and eats the plentiful fruit from the trees. He befriends the small wild animals that roam the jungle as well. Without the nature and pieces of earth that surrounded him at this time, Ishmael's life could very well have been over. The fruit, which could have been poisonous, provided him with sustenance during his stay in the patch of woods. He noted that even “birds came to eat this strange fruit” every morning. Without this fruit, Ishmael would’ve starved. The sounds of nature help Ishmael cope with the loneliness and his terrifying memories of what he had experienced before. One day while Ishmael is staying in his place, he has a run-in with a pack of wild pigs. This scares Ishmael out of his makeshift home and he returns to the path. This is where he finds yet another group of boys to traverse with and is no longer alone with his thoughts. The solace he found in his patch in the forest eventually brings him out to discover he is not truly alone in his journey or his battle. The kindness the forest brought him foreshadows the kindness the group of boys