Beasts of no Nation ( By Uzodinma Iweala) - post #2

"So I am singing to myself,

Soldier Soldier
Kill Kill Kill.
That is how you live.
That is how you die.

And I am remembering to myself that I am doing all of this
before I am soldier and it is making me feel better. If I am doing all
of this good and now only doing what soldier is suppose to be
doing, then how can I be bad boy (Iweala, 31)?"


This chapter was VERY graphic. Agu is forced to kill a soldier of the opposing side. Afterward, he has to comfort himself. Agu is going through complete shock. I think he really knows that something is wrong with this band of rebels. Yet, even though he is scared, he is full of pride because he sees himself as a soldier. Whether he can handle the pressure or not, he seems to have a distinct form of accomplishment in killing. After this chapter, I also began to believe that Agu doesn't listen to his conscience, instead he focuses on growing up to soon. He sees himself as ahead of the game for killing another man at his age. Even so, he must keep telling himself that God will not punish soldiers for killing because that is what soldiers are suppose to do. I feel very bad for Agu because he is exposed to everything that a person, especially a young child like Agu, should never have to see. Also at his age he is so susceptible to adult figures that he can get almost brain washed into a killer, by nature.

For The Record:
By this point of the story, one discovers that Agu's parents may or may not be alive, they ran away from the village with everyone else.

So... Questions?

1) How far will Agu go? Will his character change entirely?

2) How did Agu get separated from his family?

3) If Agu had the chance, would he leave the rebel army? Would he force himself to stay?

(at this point i think the only thing that would make Agu leave would be finding his mother and sister)