The Sky is The Limit
"A Long Way Gone" By: Ishmael Beah
Ishmael Beah, p. 166
"When I was a child, my grandmother told me that the sky speaks to those who look and listen to it. She said, 'In the sky there are always answers and explanations for everything: every pain, every suffering, joy, and confusion.' That night I wanted the sky to talk to me."
Lion King's Simba Character Talking to the Sky
According to Beah in "A Long Way Gone," when Ishmael feels as if he has no one to turn to, he remembers his grandmother telling him to look up at the sky when in search of peace. Since he has been suffering and witnessing violence on Earth, Beah looks up at the sky hoping to find answers to his confusion, especially since the sky is a very calm place to talk to. The photo illustrates a lion from the movie "Lion King", he is looking up into the sky because he feels pain, he is suffering, and is confused. He feels peace when he looks up to the sky because he feels close to his dad just like Ishmael felt close to his grandmother when he remembers her. Therefore, we can tell this quote includes one of the five senses, which in this case is sight. Beah uses his vision and mind to express his feelings and thoughts just like Simba from Lion King. This quote helps the reader to better understand and visualize the character's feelings when he is feeling lonely.