At the village of Yele, a pivotal shift in this memoir begins when Ishmael goes from being an observer and victim of savage, war-triggered violence to being both of these things as well as a perpetrator of such violence. How does this shift happen? Do Ishmael and his companions have any choice in making it?
The shift seems to happen as a matter of fact. Beah is a boy old enough to be a child soldier. The progression from losing his family to being a child soldier is standard in the context of many African civil conflicts.
This big shift happens after Ishmael loses his parents and the rebels are trying to attack the village they're in now.The leader drafted boys,Ishmael and his friends being some,to go and help fight off the rebels.He motivated them by saying they are the ones that killed your family which worked and triggered Ishmael's inner evil.They have a chance in making it if the fight.
