The Characters Of Salva's A Long Walk To Water

In the book “A long walk to water” authored by linda sue park,salva has to go on a personal journey to survive and it impacted him majorly. What is a personal journey? One might ask. Well a personal journey is when someone or something goes on a journey and on their journey they go along and meet allies and friends,they have struggles or obstacles,and they change (mostly in a good way) throughout the story.One lesson this story suggests is that “Sometimes the pain and struggles that you encounter will help you succeed”. In the story “A long walk to water”. Salva went on a personal journey and it impacted him drastically. He had to get away from the war in sudan and he met many people that helped him, he had many conflicts and struggles,and he even witnessed his uncle passing away. But when things were at his worst he found a miracle.

According to the text,( A long walk to water), it states “The old woman gave salva a bag of peanuts and a gourd for drinking water. He thanked her and said goodbye.”Pg 22. In other words, it shows that even though he old women was leaving him she gave him two important items that she knew would be helpful on the journey or way which were peanuts and a gourd to eat and to carry water in and if would have not gave him that gourd he would have not been able to save the water to drink it when needed. Furthermore,it states “ None of the travelers had money or anything of value to trade, so they had to beg for food. The exception was uncle: the fishermen gave him food without having to be asked.”Pg 47. Therefore,it shows that since the group had nothing much valuable they couldn’t trade and started begging for food but when the fishermen saw them he gave uncle the fish which shows that they had helped them and salva by giving them

“Mawien Dut sprinkles water on his son’s head, the Dinka way of blessing someone who was lost.” This reveals that Salva’s father and Salva have made it. The protected land in Africa. This also shows both of them being delighted and speechless to see each other. No words could come out of their mouths. Sobs of joy between both of them. Infinity love between both of them. Success between both of them. Amazement. Joy. LOVE. Additionally, they were one family again and were safe from the 21-year old civil war. If you look closely through the lenses of culture, you could see Dinka family members pouring water over their kid’s head. Later in the novel, Salva, delightful and solicitous. Began helping the other big tribe; the Nuer. The tribe killed his Uncle. The tribes have been fighting with his tribe for hundreds of years. The tribes have many similarities. Salva has helped make the Nuer think. “The Dinka and the Nuer were enemies-had been for hundreds of years. Why would a Dinka bring water to us?” This shows, Salva was resourceful to everyone in Southern Sudan. He gave everyone in Southern Sudan the right resources to eat and drink. Even his worst enemies. This also shows that Salva changed hundreds of lives in Southern Sudan. Furthermore, this idea makes people’s mind change about killing the other big tribe. If you look closely through the lens of place, you could see everyone feel joyful. Lucky. And mostly caring. This all happens

Throughout many people that have died during this war, Salva were one of the individuals to survive the hazardous lands of South Sudan. Survival was possible for Salva through the help of his uncle, refugee camps, hope and luck. The first factor that contributed to Salva’s survival was his uncle. Salva had been walking for days until he found his uncle. Uncle had a gun, because he used to work in the military.

In the novel “A long walk to water” by Linda Sue Park, Salva, a young man that lived in South Sudan throughout his childhood to his young-adult years, had faced many difficult challenges the young age of eleven. Salva had to flee from home because of Sudan’s civil war. He soon experienced a horrifying and dreadful life, his family gone, no resources in his group, he watched people die, walked for months, and lead twelve hundred boys to a refugee camp in Kenya. Salva survived this terrible life with the help of three factors, perseverance, luck, and relationships with others. Without any of these factors, Salva might not have been able to survive or possibly become the leader he is today.

Although I had sufficient meals in morning and evening, I was still hunger during day time. I played tennis on Wednesday. While running on the court, I felt extremely dehydrated and starving. When I hit the ball, I suddenly felt that I was going to fall down because I was shaky and exhausted. I ran to the bathroom and squatted down. I was overwhelmed by my weakness that a sense of insecurity surrounded me. “I am weak”, I told myself, “I can not do this”. I suddenly reflected on my experience in Yemen. I was sitting in the car while I witnessed refugee children knocking on my window and tirelessly begging for food. In their eyes, I saw no anger but fear. All they worried about were the basic need of living: food. Many people, nowadays, fast to lose weight. For them, fasting shows their courage and persistence. They lose the sympathy to the poor who starve to death. However, many poor people, including labors and refugees, have to do heavy manual work for livings. In addition to physical pain, the poor also suffer mentally. For instance, the refugee children are always worrying about their next meals with no sense of secure. They have no hope to their futures. With the experience of working in hunger, I am able to relate my feelings to poor people’s feelings and show empathy toward them.

They needed food to survive and to make them stronger so they would be able to pass the selections. Family fought family and friends fought friends they turned on each other for their own survival. When they were on the wagons guards and other people would throw bread on for their own amusement. The prisoners would jump on each other and end up crushing each other since they were so skinny. Elie didn't have the strength to fight off twelve men to get a piece of bread but he watched an old man drag himself trying to get a piece for him and his son. But his son attacked him “Meir. Meir, my boy! Don't you recognize me? I'm your father...you're hurting me...you're killing your father! I've got some bread...for you too...for you too…..”(106). At that point the son did not think of him as his father he was just another man taking food that could help him survive. He only thought of

Salva’s uncle (Jewiir) was one of the many factors that aided him in his survival. When Jewiir, pretty much his only hope of protection and his source of

The simplistic plot of the novel and the overall theme of love allows the author to span the lives of the main characters. The reader sees the span of the life of two of the main characters, Sidda and her mother Vivi, as

After having been brought to America, most of the “lost boys” were expected to start their new life without looking back. This man, of course, had a different idea. On his plane back to the United States from visiting his father, Salva contemplated every moment of the trip. He then had an idea- something to help the people living in severe hardship and poverty. His wanted to build wells for the tribes in southern Sudan. When he got back to Rochester, Salva had no hesitation to put his plan into action. Chris and Louise, his new parents, provided many suggestions and a friend of theirs named Scott was an expert at setting up projects like this. The perpetual hurdles that had to be cleared during the process were overwhelming at times, but Salva remembered his Uncle Jewiir’s words. A step at a time. One problem at a time- just figure out this one problem. Along the way, he met others who were interested in helping; which in turn made everything much less difficult. The undeniable truth was that Salva had to raise money for such an elaborate project. That meant that he had to speak publicly and ask for people to donate. It was nerve-racking; considering the fact that Salva hadn’t spoken in front of a large audience since grade school. He had to do it, though. It was the only way. Salva persevered and spoke to hundreds of people in churches, at civic organizations, and schools. Day by day, this man worked toward his goal

stated in the book Man’s search for meaning “One fellow would ask another working next to him in the ditch what his favorite dishes were. Then they would exchange recipes and plan the menu for the day when they would have a reunion-the day in the distant future when they would be liberated and returned home.” (Frankl.29). Even when they were working they would talk about food. But it kinda sounds like being able to eat in the future gave them hope that they will get out someday. Being able to eat someday gave them hope to keep going. Food is the only thing they wanted to talk about and the only thing they thought about. Its sad that food became their whole life and they only got very little food. If they had one moment to talk the would talk about food. In their life before the camps their whole life was not food, now they can’t stop thinking about

Sadly, a group of nuer that was against the Dinka had killed salva's uncle."They buried uncle in a hole about two feet deep, a hole that has already been made by some kind of animal."(64) Not only did Salva loose Marial but he also lost the only family member that was close to him. Salva couldnt hold on to this forver. This was the best they couldve done for his uncle, bury him. There was no way that his unc couldve cam back to life so Salva had to get over this tragic event to keep going. Even though he was in shock, he kept on traveling the next day.He couldnt stop moving. He knw that in his heart. It was logical that he continued with the group, othrwise he wouldve been left behind as the group didnt care for him any more since his uncle died. Following his uncle's death, "..the group's attitude toward him changed."(65) they had all thought that he was too small and weak to go along with the group. So as predicted they've started to neglect him again. Even though times were tough, Salva still begged for scraps because it was all he was going to get and he had to accept that. One of Salva's goals was to reunite with his family again.But deep in his mind he always knew that ther was a possiblity that he could never see his family again bcause they couldve ben kileld. But slava nevr chose to accept that reality, instead he looked on the bright said and

The second survival factor that made survival possible for Salva was Uncle Jewiir’s advice. Not only was his advice a survival factor, but he himself was a survival factor. While Salva was crossing the desert in chapter 7 he found himself losing hope. But Uncle Jewiir didn’t let that happen. He made sure to stay by Salva’s side when he needed somebody for comfort and he gave advice. According to chapter 7 (page 41), it states that “If it hadn’t been Uncle, Salva might have gone crazy with fear. Uncle spoke to him all morning in a steady, low voice.” This shows us that Salva was afraid of the lions and he needed someone to comfort him. This also shows that without Uncle Jewiir Salva would probably be long gone. It also says in chapter 9 (page 53) that “As if by magic, Uncle was suddenly at his side. “Salva Mawien Dut Ariik!” he said, using Salva’s full name, loud and clear. Salva lifted his head, the sobs interrupted by surprise. “Do you see that group of bushes?” Uncle said, pointing. You need to only walk as far as those bushes. Can you do that, Salva Mawien Dut Ariik?” This shows us that Uncle Jewiir’s advice helped him a lot and what Uncle was trying to imply to Salva was to take a step at a time instead of taking it all in one time. Not only did Uncle Jewiir’s advice help now, but years later too. He was

His Uncle. Though he did not last very long, he was still a huge turning point for Salva and helped his urge to keep moving, just a step at a time. On one special day in Southern Sudan 1985, Salva was stood off from an unusual sound, his name. But who was it called him? Then the man came toward him, it was his Uncle Jewiir. His father’s youngest brother who he had not seen in two years. Soon later Uncle took full responsibility for taking care of Salva. “Listing to Uncle, hurrying to stay close to him. Salva was able to make his feet move despite the cold terrain that froze his whole body.” To add later on chapter seven, page 41 second part, “ Just one step at a time, just a day at a time.” Salva was closer to reaching his goal First part. These quotes relates to how Salva had lost almost everything, but he did not want to lose Uncle too. So he was trying to everything that he can, so that Uncle would not get out of his sight and to keep him with him. Salva was very cautious during the time he had Uncle because he was at least someone that would willingly take care of him and helped the person that he is. It was also for Uncle’s words that helped Salva for when he was stuck. So that Salva’s goal will not loosen from his grip like almost everyone had. During Salva’s childhood, he always felt better for when he had Uncle. He acted as Salva’s guardian angel, a person that Salva could trust and love. For what happened to

time of famine. Elisha asks the man to give his bread to the people to eat but the man questions him, saying that his twenty loaves of bread will be insufficient in feeding all one hundred hungry people. Elisa restates his request adding that it is the word of the LORD, and when the man complies all one hundred people are fed with leftover bread to spare. While reading this passage one can find greater understanding by observing three subsections, or levels, of meaning. The structure of this passage aids in identifying important aspects of the story through repetition which can later help with understanding the surface-level meaning and the overall communal message being conveyed.