Analysis Of First They Killed My Father By Lung Ung

Throughout the memoir, "First They Killed My Father" by Lung Ung, many hardships are placed on the Ung family after the Khmer Rouge take over their home capitol of Phenom Phen. They are forced into labor camps and if they do not comply or work hard enough for the soldiers, they will be killed along with their family. They face many deaths of close relatives and they all have to ignore it and keep working. Throughout the story, there are many moments were they all just want to give up and stop working, but Pa influences them to push through and in the end, it gives them the motivation they need to survive the Cambodian Genocide. Loung and her family's relationship with Pa motivated them to survive the Cambodian Genocide. During the Cambodian Genocide, many teens are forced to go and work in child labor

Pa knows they are not taking him for that; they are going to kill him. He goes to his family and pretends he will be coming back, but everyone knows this is going to be the last time they see Pa. He says his goodbyes and he leaves with the soldiers. Pa never comes back home. Loung and her family know he is dead but they don't want to believe it. They all fall into a depressed state but they can feel Pa's presence. "Life is hard without Pa...To my surprise, Ma has become a hard worker and is surviving without Pa...I see Ma in a very different light now and I have more pride and strength. Somehow, one way or another, we are still alive" (Ung 111-112). After Pa's death, the Ung family mourns over his death, but it also motivates them to work harder. Ma realizes she is going to need to work harder to keep the family safe now that Pa is gone. Loung then realizes that Ma is working harder and this motivates her and gives her more pride. This motivation pushes them to work through all the hardship and overall keeps them