Character Clues

Character Analysis

Actions

How people act is always important. But it's especially a big deal when you're just hoping to survive. Before he joins the army, Ishmael constantly has to show he's not a threat because, as a preteen boy, he looks like one. Even when he's doing his best to act casual and innocent, people still don't believe him:

It was clear from the tone of his voice that he didn't want me around and didn't trust me. I looked at the curious and skeptical faces of the children and the woman. I was glad to see other faces and at the same time disappointed that the war had destroyed the enjoyment of the very experience of meeting people. Even a twelve-year-old couldn't be trusted anymore. (7.15)

Carefully observing people's actions is also key for Ishmael's survival. He sees the aggression on the faces of rebel soldiers and members of the army and knows they're bad news. When people like Esther or Uncle Tommy try to help him, he's got to try to read their actions for ulterior motives. Are they really helping him? Or are they just trying to get something for themselves? Ishmael's ability to judge the actions of other becomes the main way he stays alive.

But actions can't be completely trusted to reveal character, especially in Ishmael's case. If you only saw what he did, you'd think he was a totally evil, twisted person without a shred of decency or compassion. But because we get to know him from the inside, we learn that these actions were the result of fear and drugs and brainwashing. There was always a decent and loving person deep inside.

Clothing

Clothes make the man—or woman—but in Ishmael's world, clothes are also a sign of who you are and how much power you have. Ishmael starts off with just the clothes off his back, which turn into rags pretty quickly:

I decided to take a bath. I hadn't had time to take one for a while. My clothes were dirty, my crapes were rotten, and my body was sticky with dirt. When I first threw water on my skin, it became slimy. (8.8)

It's easy to see that Ishmael is on the bottom of the wartime food chain. Like other refugees, his clothes are dirty and ripped, but there's nothing he can do to replace them. He's powerless to change his circumstances. He's powerless to even change his clothes.

But clothes in the army are a different story. Ishmael's uniform distinguishes him from the lowly civilians around him. The green bandanas they wear during battle help them stand out from the RUF fighters. Soldiers often have clothes that are covered in blood, but they also have the luxury of washing and changing them. In fact, an important part of raiding villages is finding new clothes. Civilians don't have that ability, so clean clothes and uniforms are a sign of power and authority. We're guessing the huge AK-47s help a little, too.

When Ishmael goes to be interviewed to speak at the U.N., some of the other kids tease him because he's so poorly dressed. But he makes the case that he's more authentic than these city kids—he's been through the war. The U.N. folks are convinced.

Occupation

Our jobs are a big part of who we are. That's especially true for this story. Ishmael encounters people that mainly belong to two different professions—soldiers and aid workers.

Without exception, the soldiers that Ishmael comes across are brutal and unfeeling. Sure, there might have been some sensitive soul walking around with a gun and a heart full of mercy, but Ishmael never mentions running into him. Kindness, sensitivity, and patience aren't exactly qualities that help boys excel at killing. Better to be mercilessly cruel to get ahead and stay alive.

After he leaves the army, Ishmael runs into a new kind of person—an aid worker. These are people who—like soldiers—risk their lives, but these folk are doing it just to help people.

She was wearing her white uniform and was on her way to take on other traumatized children. It must be tough living with so many war stories. I was just living with one, mine, and it was difficult, as the nightmares about what had happened continued to torment me. Why does she do it? Why do they all do it? (19.5)

Ishmael is amazed that the staff at the rehabilitation center won't give up on the violent boys they're caring for. The boys attack and injure the staff and they just come back for more. And with smiles on their faces. Ishmael can't believe it. Esther, too, keeps trying to reach out to him even though giving up on Ishmael would be the easiest thing in the world.

In the end, Ishmael sees in aid workers the kind of person he wants to become. Someone who helps others without expecting anything in return. And that's exactly who he turns out to be.