As he’s sitting in the Sierra Leone consulate, Ishmael recalls a time as a small boy and being told a story about a monkey. At first, the story, and Ishmael’s answer to the story, may seem to have nothing to do with the book. However, think back to the reason Ishmael’s going to the United States. How might the story and his answer to the story, relate to the reason he’s decided to go to the United States?
The story Beah chooses to end the memoir with gives insight into Beah’s attitude toward the oppressors in Sierra Leone. The tale of the hunter is meant as a childhood philosophical discussion to force young men and women to weigh an impossible dilemma. Beah knows his choice seems hard-hearted (resulting in his mother's death), but he wants to focus on solving the greater problem beyond the choice between the life of one parent or another. He identifies the monkey who forces the choice as the true threat, and wishes to eliminate that threat to future “hunters.” From this the reader can infer that Beah would see the military regime in Sierra Leone toppled so that it no longer forced boys to choose between life and death, between family and military service, or between childhood and violence - even if it demands a sacrifice. Beah's childhood and innocence were sacrificed, but with this memoir, his words can expose and hopefully help end the atrocity.
