Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Reactions to Beah's book
There's a great poem by Edna St. Vincent Millay titled, "Childhood is the Kingdom where Nobody Dies." I thought of it when I first read of Beah losing his parents at such a young age. Millay's poem says that when you lose a parent, your childhood ends. It's not a chronological age. Another poet whose works line up with Beah's experience...
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I would have to agree and disagree with Millay's idea that when you lose a parent, you lose your childhood. I would agree if the the child had lost their only parent because then they are forced to grow up much faster then intended. On the other hand, I know people who have lost only one parent and, although their childhood was changed drastically, it was not totally taken away. Each situation is different, therefore each could have a different outcome. So I agree and disagree with the statement made by Millay.
ReplyDeleteIf you enjoyed reading, or were particularly moved by Beah's book, I recommend seeing Hotel Rwanda. Hotel Rwanda is a film based on true events that happened in Rwanda, and poses similar questions about the nature of humanity and the atrocities committed during 'war'.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Millay's poem in the fact that when you lose a parent, you become an independent person and no longer have the reliance of an adult to guide you along the way. Your responsibilities become greater and your decisions must be chosen wisely. I could never imagine losing my parents even at this age because even though I am becoming an adult, I still like to get their opinion and advice. Plus, my parents are paying for my college, therefore they are still supporting me.
ReplyDeleteRobert Frost's "The Road not Taken" mildly lines up with Beah's experience because, though it is not a road he chooses for himself, it certainly is one that not many people have been down themselves.
ReplyDeleteEvery child experiences some type of a childhood. Some kids experience longer ones than others. Beahs childhood was cut short when he lost both of his parents. He was forced to become an adult. I agree with the poem titled, "Childhood is the Kingdon where Nobody Dies".
ReplyDeleteI agree i think that the terms "childhood" and "adulthood" are all relative. I am twenty years old and to most i would be considered an adult however i still think of myself as being in the "childhood" phase of my life.
ReplyDeleteObviously something like losing your parents would end your childhood. You can no longer act as a child because you know have to be responsible for yourself, and in some cases you now have to take care of others.
Thinking about the idea of losing your parents at a young age is devastating. During my middle school years one of my closest friends dad died. I witnessed just how much it really affected my friend and her sister. They saw their Dad slowly die from cancer, killing him eventually after he batteled for seven years. In the end I would say that they found some relief in the fact that he had passed on just because they knew that he was no longer suffering. Since the day their father passed though, those two friends of mine haven't been the same. They lost a spark that they used to have and it is evident that the lose of their father was directly a main reason why their childhood changed. They didn't have the same experiences that other kids that had both parents had. When we were playing soccer and their dad was no longer there to watch them play you could tell even though they would never say it, it killed them they didn't have that support anymore. Having a role model or a parent figure in your life is so important to your childhood. I really feel for Beah that he lost everything in a matter of minutes, and had no choice but to put his life back together in order to survive.
ReplyDeleteWhen I first read beah's book, I could not believe how well he did on his own. He basically had to learn how to be an adult at a young age. I would not be able to survive on my own at the age of twelve. I believe that your childhood does end when your parents die, because you have to learn how to survive on their own, and you have to be responsible for yourself and others as well.
ReplyDeleteAfter reading the poem just now I kind of don't agree with what the poet said. I don't think the death of parents means that you will lose your childhood. Since the child will still have friends and other people in his life to help him redeem his childhood. That is what was so significant about the rap music tapes because he was able to for a few minutes be a kid again even through all the chaos and war.
ReplyDeleteIt was a powerful piece that reminds us of how fragile life is. It's a testament to the strength of people. I feel like it fits what is currently going on in the Middle East with the struggles of uprising and revolution. I can't help but wonder if anyone feels that way.
ReplyDeleteFor me, it also put a face to the genocide. At times I still felt like it was a character, I had to remind myself that these are legitimate human experiences. The video helped solidify that.
In Beah's situation this also seemed to be the case. Beah, forced by his situation, quickly ended his childhood. He had to become a survivor which is something you never think about as a child. Throughout your childhood, you have someone who takes care of you, loves you and provides you with all your basic needs. Your biggest concern should be what should I play with next? Clearly for Beah this ended when he separated from his family and things became even worse once he found out that his family had died.
ReplyDeleteYou don't necessarily lose your childhood if you lose a parent. If you have other guardians I don't think you really lose it. If you don't have any guardians and have to fend for yourself or you have to take care of younger siblings, you lose your childhood. However, if just one parent dies and you still have the other, you should not lose your childhood. As long as you have someone to look after you, care and love you, you'll be fine. It does not have to be a parent who gives you the opportunity to be a child.
ReplyDeleteI think your childhood has nothing to do with when your parents die or live. There are plenty of Orphan children out there who's parents had died at birth but they don't automatically lose their childhood. A child however loses his/her innocence when their parent dies.
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ReplyDeleteThe impact that the death of his parents had on Beah is dynamic. Beah was very close with his family and held both of his parents in high regard. As a result, when they died his loss of innocence surfaced and became increasingly more obvious. Furthermore, his emotional turmoil was exploited and used to the military's advantage by the very lieutenants he looked up too. All in all, the loss of a parent or both parents can have a range of effects depending on the individual, and this novel does a good job of illustrating those effects.
ReplyDeletemillay is referring to how parents will always feel protective of their children. parents will be responsible for their children until they reach an uncertain age of adulthood, yet the unconditional care will not fade away.
ReplyDeletemy own mother has told me before, "even if you grow up and have a family, i will still see you as my baby". no matter what age, people will be viewed as someone to be taken care by their parents. this poem relates well to ishmael's situation in the beginning of his novel. his childhood ceased when his parents were lost.
I strongly disagree with Millay's idea that if you lose a parent your childhood ends. If your 12 years old such as in Beah's case and lose your parents it doesn't take you out of childhood. You still think and behave somewhat like a child. This is apparent in how easy it is to persuade Beah and all the other child soldiers into fighting, since they still have the minds of a child. You do however lose a sense of innocence and it does effect your growth throughout childhood. Basically though you can't apply this to so many different cases when everyone goes through loses differently then the next person, it's an "ignorant is bliss" ,obvious generalization, statement at best.
ReplyDeleteI agree in what Millay says. When you are a child there are two very important aspects of life that need to be fulfilled, to love and to be loved. Without one or the other, it throws off your balance. Also being in the adolescent ages, you are unaware of the fulling meanings and effects of death.
ReplyDeleteTo blogger: @daegun,
Still to this day, being the youngest of three brothers, my mother always tells me, "No matter what path in life you choose to take, you will always be my baby." Without the love and affection of my parents as a child, I dont think I would be half the person I am today. Knowing that, I give my condolences to Beah for turning out to such a success story from his horrible, traumatic, and battered childhood. (Especially for losing his parents at such a young age)
I would have to agree with Millay's poem "Childhood is the Kingdom where Nobody dies." For Beah his childhood ended the day he was separated from his parents. Once you lose your parents you lose a sort of security blanket. Your parents are the ones who are supposed to protect and look after you. Once they are gone it is up to you to protect yourself.
ReplyDeleteI think that Millay is exactly right when saying that a person's childhood comes to an end as soon as they lose someone close to them. When a parent in a household dies, every other member of the family must change his/her ways in order to account for it. When this happens, regardless of what age it may occur at for a person, the idea of no responsibility and freedom comes to an end.
ReplyDeleteThere are many other poems that have to do with this same idea. For example, Stephen Crane writes about how "War is kind," and speaks to a child at one point about the terror of war on a family. This all relates back to the same point that Millay was making.
I agree with that when parents die, or any loved one for that matter, the child is forced to become mature long before society’s norm. Many children, such as Beah, are forced to go through experiences and tackle life's challenges that would normally fall on an adult, or parent’s shoulders. When you have no adult around to take the heavy load (such as paying bills, having a place to call home and being able to know whether or not you were going to have dinner tonight), the child must take that responsibility upon themselves. A child is thought to be innocent, ill-knowing, and inexperienced, but when tragic strikes, they become miniature, and artificial versions of adults that are pressured to take on obstacles that they have no familiarity with at a moment’s notice. Beah underwent this type of metamorphosis. He was forced into become an adult before his time and this does cause the loss of a “childhood.”
ReplyDeleteFamily was a major part of Beah's childhood. He was very close to his family and after he lost them, he lost everything. He became alone and when you are a child, being alone is the worst possible thing.
ReplyDeleteParents are our protectors, they watch over us and guide us to the right paths in life. As we grow older and become adults, our parents still help us and see us as the little toddlers we were many years ago. My father still says to me that I will always be his little girl, no matter how old I look.
When my parents die, my childhood will just be a memory and I will not be the same "little girl" anymore. I will have to be the one to help myself choose what path to take.
I agree with Millay’s general idea throughout the poem. I definitely think that if a child loses a parent or even both, their childhood dies with their parent. But I don’t think that it affects everyone the same way. Some people can move on from deaths, so their childhood isn’t completely lost. If a child isn’t close to a parent, they aren’t going to be affected the way a child who is attached to their parent will be. I also think age is a factor in the effects as well. If a child loses a parent very early in their life, like the first few years, they aren’t going to be as affected because they do not truly understand the role of a parent. Also, if an adult loses their parent, they aren’t truly losing their childhood. It depends on the person, but some people take it easier if they have their own family and own life and have separated from their parent. I do agree that childhood is lost, I just think age plays a factor in how people handle the situation.
ReplyDeleteAs a child, your parents are your care takers and provide you with all your needs. When a parent dies at a young age, you experience death first hand earlier then most people would normally. I think that it kind of makes one grow up a little bit faster, especially depending on how close the child is to the parent. The same applies for Baeh, who had to grow up fast not just by losing a single parent, but his entire family and also going off to war. It definatly has an effect on the person whether small or large, subtle or obvious.
ReplyDeleteIt's hard to say for me whether or not the phenomenon discussed in the poem is accurate because I have not lost either parent. I can definitely see how it could be true though.
ReplyDeleteAs an aside, I think it's interesting how loss of a childhood or even a smooth transition to adulthood is so lamented. Becoming an adult is obviously the natural course, so why is childhood seen as the best of times of our lives? And if it is in fact the best time, why did whoever or whatever made us put it at the end of our lives?
I agree with Millay to a certain extent. I think that when you lose a parent it does not necessarily mean that your "childhood", in the literal sense, is over. You still are a child, you still have other people and family members that love you and care for you. I think what does end in the event of a parent dying, however, is your ability to be lighthearted and undamaged. The death of anyone, but most of all a parent, is a heartbreaking experience that will leave you emotionally scarred for the rest of your life. And I think to go through that at a young age when one is still a child can figuratively "end" their childhood, simply because they have baggage behind them and lose the ability to be carefee.
ReplyDeleteI am going to play the devils advocate and disagree with Millay's idea that upon losing a parent your childhood ends. Losing a parent may cause a child to have to grow up faster but could also put a good perspective on life for that said child. For example by losing someone so close to you, the child, along with the influence of others, can come to the realization that life is temporary and to enjoy our 100 years. The child may also learn the importance of not taking things for granted.
ReplyDeleteI also know plenty of teenagers who I would consider more mature than some adults, I'm sure we can all name a few. Both of these are very relative terms and different for every individual, nobody matures at the same rate, but in the society we live in we must put an age to the terms child and adult for non other than legal reasons.
I would have to disagree with Millay's idea of youre childhood ending when someone such as a parent dies. I have known several people in my life to have only had 1 parent all their lives so far, and yes, it has made it more difficult for them in certain instances like a girl not having a mother to help her with being a girl or a guy not having a father and not being able to do "guy things". Just losing one is a terrible thing, but i believe that it is not something that would set back someones entire life or thrust them into adulthood at 9 years old. Sure you have to grow up differently and maybe a little faster but not instantly. Losing both parents is all together a different situation, as sometimes kids are forced to live with other family members, foster parents, or are adopted. For those that are not privileged enough to get a second chance at childhood by getting a set of foster parents or another caregiver, that would indeed be an unimaginable situation to me.
ReplyDeleteI disagree with Millay's poem. I think childhood ends under different circumstances for everyone. My parents have been divorced since I was a baby and I can't remember anything from when they were together. Also for the first six or seven years of my life, my main caretakers were my great grandparents. In the meantime, my dad was refused visitation because he couldn't pay child support and my mom was constantly in and out of relationships and jobs. However, I keep my childhood stronger than anyone else I know.
ReplyDeleteMillay's poem was a powerful piece that described just how the death of a parent may end someone's childhood at an early time. Three of my close friends lost their mothers: one at the age of ten, one in high school, and one just lost theirs early this week. Losing a parent is different than losing someone you don't often see, because the parent takes care of the child for as long as they can. When the parent is gone, it is time for the child to grow up and be on their own. The child becomes the adult.
ReplyDeleteI agree with the poem, I think that when someone loses a parent at a very young age they lose a part of their childhood as well. The parent is their nurturer, their provider, and the one that they look up to when they are younger. Losing this could have a huge impact on their life not only at a young age, but through the rest of their life also. I think that Beah had it even worse, because he didn’t just lose a parent, he lost his entire family.
ReplyDeleteSomeone once told me that when you lose a parent you lose one of the only people that ever gave you unconditional love. In my experience this is what really defines one’s childhood. Our parent’s will always care for us no matter our age but once they die we don’t have that person that sees us as a baby anymore and without that we have no childhood. There is no one to look benevolently upon us anymore. It would be impossible to imagine what Beah felt after learning of his parent’s death. He didn’t have time to ponder. He could not envision himself as an adult because he was thrown into the role so abruptly. All he could do was survive and be aware of how alone he was. This war in Sierra Leone became his war, it became his coping mechanism, and he could get revenge against those who had stolen his childhood. After the war Beah was rehabilitated, perhaps assimilating back into society was his final stage of grief, letting go of the anger within him. His anger was boiling up from how unfair life was, and how his childhood was robbed of him so violently.
ReplyDeleteA child`s world usually is filled with the love of a family and caring parents, though not always in current society. Parents should be a source of love and encouragement for the child, which is vitally needed in his growth into adulthood. Without this sense of security and identity, a child can enter adulthood confused, hurt, and insignificant inside. But when a parent dies when a child is young, this experience can shatter his world, forcing him to "grow up" too quickly.
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