A Long Way Gone

In what way is he guided by the constancy of the earth and sky?

The boys’ discovery of the Atlantic Ocean and their encounter with a cheerful fisherman who heals and feeds them is followed by the tragedy of Saidu’s death after a bird falls ominously from the sky. Discuss Ishmael’s relationship with the natural world.

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Ishmael's relationship with his natural world is consistent throughout the novel. From the moon his grandmother told him to be like to the crow falling out of the sky, there is a connection between the boy and the elements that is almost palpable. Ishmael heads towards the sea, a symbol of freedom and hope. The rains, when they come, wash over him like a baptism. At times Ishmael's state of mind mirror the elements and interestingly the elements too mirror his state of mind.