First_They_Killed_My_Father

Essay: First They Killed My Father is a novel about the tragedy and suffering of the war. however, it also shows that there is hope and survival in all situation. Discuss. First They Killed My Father demonstrates the tragic experience of Loung during the Cambodian war 1975-1979.The Ung family lived a comfortable, middle class existence that was full of hopes for the future before the war. After the Khmer Rouge arrived, Loung’s family experienced terrible pain and loss. However, the memoir shows that people can stay hopeful and survival even during the most dreadful times. Loung will never be the same girl but at least she has her life memories. Before the arrival of the Khmer Rouge, everything is teeming with life and everyone is extreme pleased with themselves. The ordinary daily life there is splendid, the busy traffic, the shouting vendors bounding off of each other in the crowded street, and people eating in restaurants, going to work. Loung’s families live in a spacious apartment with modern equipment, which makes them comfortable.”….we are middle-class because of our apartment and the possessions we have…” The narrator, Loung, also tells of her mother’s beauty and father’s brilliance and generosity., whilst we can see her own brave, strong-willed personality though recounting. ”I lean against the railing…..from our apartment building.” Everything has changed as time goes by. First They Killed My Father, vividly displays how the Khmer Rouge solders destroyed Cambodia under the strict oppressive regime.People suffer the enormous pain and protracted tense from the destruction of the family unit, the frequent relocation, the brutal treatment, the decrease of the food ration, the force of changing religion, the loss of children’s innocence, etc. People become frail, insane and some of them suicide under the harshness of the environment. “Because they are the destroyers of the things” As pa said,” children are always the first to suffer” and their childhood are indeed stolen by the Khmer Rouge. ”Geak gets very weak to malnutrition,’ she’s almost 5 and looks much smaller than I did when I was that age…..she laugh a small frail laugh”. Khouy ‘s ”eyes are dark, face is bony….already everything about khouy gives you the impression of hardness.” etc. All the children are forced to grow up and accept the responsibility beyond their normal ability. However, we can not help asking:” is there any hope and survival in all that harshness of war and political situation'” The answer is obviously yes. First They Killed My Father shows that many survive and hope are on the basis of physical strength during people’s painful deaths by malnutrition and starvation, such as Loung and kim, both of them are born fighters with enormous capacity to fight for what they want or need.”….I fight others for food, surviving another day has become my main goal in life.” In the Chou and Meng’s sides, according to their physical weakness, they are less likely to be noticed or forced to participate in more dangerous events of the Khmer Rouge. Apparently, it’s another way of surviving and gaining hope by taking the less risk. One the other hand, the psychological strength is also an important aspect leading to the survival and hope. After pa’s death, his wise words enable Loung to have confidence and will to survive, she always believe that pa’s love can guide her whenever she is in disturbing situation.” I am a diamond in the rough and with a little polishing I will shine.”” I have everything pa gave me.” Loung also vows to avenge and kill those who brutally abused her father and her family, this powerful rage and hatred makes her “want to survive so that I may kill.” Pa’s love and support helps Loung survive the trauma and she is never hopeless with pa’s around her all the time despite the extreme depression. Pa comes to Loung in the dream several times and guides her the proper way to go with enormous courage. Even after the war when Loung is in another country she looks to pa belief and the will to believe in her enough to survive the effect of war. First They Killed My father also illustrates that people survive the war and gain hope by sacrificing for each other under the danger of starvation to death. it’s like Kim stolen corns for his family, ma was assaulted trying to get Geak a bit of chicken meat. In the Pa’s side, he demands his family to keep relocation for safety and hope. However, it’s undoubted that those who survived the cruel regime of Pol Pot, survived as a result of a kind of ability, they know how to get self-preservation by using strong-willed while facing troubles. The society of Cambodia, such a inhumane society, in the meantime, forces people to have certain quality to survive. The experience will forever remain in Loung’s heart, as a reminder of those that were lost to the cruelty of the Khmer Rough and its leader Pol Pot. This event will also leave her psychological scarred. In the other hand, she also changes from a immature girl into a strong, determined, dependent, brave and strong-willed woman, which will give her more confidence in the future. In conclusion, there’s always survival and hope in all situation.