Essay 1

Tony Le
Professor Kara Waite
November 20, 2012
ENG 095-90
Essay #1

          Uwem Akpen wrote the stories in "Say You're One Of Them" with the feeling of hope and sadness within war-torn countries. The two stories "Fattening For Gabon" and "My Parent's Bedroom" have great examples. 

          "Everywhere is dark, and the wind spreads black clouds like blankets across the sky. My brother is playing with the glow of the crucifix, babbling Maman's name." (My Parent's Bedroom) Uwem Akpen ended the story with such darkness but yet the last lines give you a sign of peace. The crucifix symbolized hope, the main character held onto it when it broke after 'the Wizard' the antagonist, broke it off. Her brother is babbling their mother's name while playing with the crucifix like a toy. This makes the ending more bright like light shining off an ominous cloud.

          "I looked out the window often and wished that I could blow out the sun like a candle or turn the world upside down so the waters of our ocean could drown it. I begged God to send us the darkest nights." (Fattening For Gabon) The children in this story have been suffering from living conditions with their uncle and constant fear of him acting up and sleeping naked. They're being sold off by him for human trafficking. The beauty from this passage gives the reader a sad feeling. The words are expressive to the point that you can imagine the sun being blown out and the world spilling water onto the moon.

          "I ran into the bush,blades of elephant grass slashing my body, thorns and rough earth piercing my feet. I took the key and padlock from my pocket and flung them into the bush. I ran and I ran, though I knew I would never outrun my sister's wailing." (Fattening For Gabon) The main character finds an escape from the human traffickers and tries to bring his sister with him, but she yelled while trying to get out. Pursued, the main character runs but couldn't save his sister. He makes a daring escape. The reader is filled with emotion of hope that he survives and sadness that his sister is still in the hands of the traffickers.

          Uwem Akpen's writing for strong subjects like genocide and human trafficking could give you two feelings at once. He sheds light to dark areas no one knew could have and shrouds the feeling of hope. He managed to conjure up stories that makes the reader happy and sad at the same time.

In-Class 11/20

Most of the characters in "Say You're One of Them" do not have freedom. I disagree that most of the characters don't have freedom, the ability to do what they wanted. As children had little control over the actions that take place around them. The best they could had done was to run away and they always had that choice. The people who controlled them were their role models such as their parents or guardians. They just didn't know what to do while they were stuck in their own situation struggling between family and conflict, sometimes the family was the conflict. They had opportunities to escape, say what they wanted and do what they wanted to but out of fear they couldn't. For example, the children in "Fattening for Gabon" wanted to express their feelings towards their uncle but because he was drunk and usually naked when he sleeps they feared him. The main character from the first story "An Ex-Mas Feast" got to leave his family he had the freedom to do this when he wanted. He saw the situation get worse and left after his sister left.

Thesis

Uwem Akpen wrote the stories in "Say You're One Of Them" with the feeling of hope and sadness within war-torn countries. The two stories "Fattening For Gabon" and "My Parent's Bedroom" have great examples using the point of view of children.