The Theme Of Loss Of Innocence By Ishmael Beah

The Loss of Innocence

When one thinks of childhood, images of little league baseball games, soccer and carefree days spent with family come to mind with the only worries are whether their room is cleaned and their homework is done, not knowing whether they will make it through the night should be the last thing a child has to worry about. Ishmael Beah was a former child soldier forced to fight in Sierra Leone’s civil war that consumed his home country in the 1990’s. Beah explains his hardships as “ I am from Sierra Leone, and the problem that is affecting our children is the war that forces us to run away from our homes, lose our families, and aimlessly roam the forests (Beah 199)”. Ishmael Beah’s autobiography,

He was forced to grow up quickly in his quest to find his family. During his journey he matured as he struggled for survival on a day to day basis. “ One evening we actually chased a little boy who was eating two boiled ears of corn by himself...we didn’t say a word or even look at each other ( Beah 30)”. While on the run from the war, he and his travel mates scavenged to find what little food was left by the Revolutionary United Front ( RUF). Beah’s text encompasses the perseverance he carries while facing a war that could take his life. Without the war changing his way of life, he would not have had to steal food to insure the next day. Another example of maturation is when Ishmael was forced to fight in the army. “ He took out the magazine and handed me the AK with two hands. I hesitated for a bit, but he pushed the gun against my chest, With trembling hands, I took the gun and saluted him...still holding the gun, but afraid to look at it (Beah 111)”.The normal 12 year old has never held a war gun let alone has shot one. The corporal who handed the children AK’s, forced them to become mature and act like adults by doing grown up actions. The weapon symbolizes his innocent day of childhood were over. He would now be expected to be a killer..Growing up is inevitable, but the death of family and friends cuts deeper wounds than letting go your younger

Yet in Sierra Leone more than 10,000 fighter were children (Dumbuya,1). War in this third world country alted every inhabitant’s life and view on war because it was fought in their backyard. “ My uncle was sitting on the verandah, tears in his eyes...he embraced us for a long time and told us not to go to the city anymore (Beah 207)”. Everyday tasks like getting food from the city were changed because of the war.The fear of being hit by a stray bullet from the rebel was a part of everyday life. Due to all the chaos, there was no escaping the killing of blameless individuals. “The last causality that we saw that evening was a woman who carried her baby on her back, Blood was running down her dress and dripping behind her, making a trail. Her child had been shot as she ran for her life ( Bael 13)”. As Ishmael observes more grotesque event, he becomes jaded so tragedies don’t affect him. With the help of drugs the commanders gave Ishmael and the other boy’s, the gruesome tragedies became an everyday occurrence do not phase them as they once did.These incidences striped the boys of their purity that presents itself in undamaged