A Long Way Gone--Chapters 17-18

These chapters made me very happy because Ishmael finally begins to open up about what he has been through and he begins to gain himself back. The nurse, Esther, is the one who gets Ishmael to start opening up. I really value her character for this reason. She buys him a cassette player and cassettes, which is the initial thing that allows Ishmael to begin opening up. I think it is a coincidence because the rap music saved his life so much before he became a soldier and now after he was a soldier it is saving his life again in a way. Because of the rap music, he is beginning to gain his old self back, which is a way of saving Ishmael. If he didn't return to his ways after ending his career as a soldier he would be completely lost and so it is important that music is in his life again Also, the presence of a family member in his life again was a great joy to him and the reader. I was happy that he was finally reconnecting with someone who would accept him no matter what his past was like, his family. Also, having his uncle in his life again would help his recovery because his uncle would remind him or his previous life and what things were like. This is essential because Ishmael had not thought about his previous life or especially his family deeply in a while. If Ishmael cannot accept and move past his problems in life then he will never be able to turn the other cheek ad start a new chapter in his life. Another great thing in this section was the return of Mohamad. This just proved that not everything that existed before the war had been deleted from Ishmael's life. Also, it makes Ishmael happy to have his old pal back and another porthole for his memories. All around, it seems like things are definitely starting to shape up for Ishmael... And it's about time! Although this chapter was filled with many, many positive, there were also some horrible flashbacks. One significant flashback was the event that caused the scars in his feet and legs. While fighting, he received many bullet wounds in his feet but he ignored them because he wanted to keep fighting. But eventually, he went to the doctor and the pain was excruciating. It was hard to read about Ishmael being in such agonizing pain. The war had not only caused him emotional pain and loss, but also physical. How else was the war going to impact his life? Well, emotionally and psychologically Ishmael was and will never be the same. Another big thing about these chapters is how Ishmael cannot show emotion because he feels bad and he had numbed himself for so long. Often times, he wants to smile but either doesn't know how or doesn't know whether he should. It would be so hard to have to keep your emotions under control all the time. He also says that he has lost the possibility of happiness so when he is happy he doesn't both showing it because he doesn't believe that it will last or that is just temporary. For someone so young to have to think about this is so tragic to me. The war still has a lasting impact on his everyday life, which is horrible. I was happy while reading these chapters however because Ishmael's life is starting to shape up and I'm seeing some of the old Ishmael show through.