Final answer:
Ishmael Beah in 'A Long Way Gone' is fighting for survival, reclaiming his humanity, and achieving peace after being a child soldier in Sierra Leone. His struggle is symbolic of larger historical battles for dignity and justice. Beah's narrative showcases his resilience and the broader human quest for self-determination amid conflict.
Step-by-step explanation:
Ishmael Beah, in A Long Way Gone, fights for survival, for a sense of normalcy amidst chaos, and for redemption. Initially, he fights simply to stay alive as civil war ravages Sierra Leone, his home. This instinctual struggle for life against violent odds is a common theme throughout the historical and literary examples provided. As he becomes a child soldier, his fight extends to protecting his own values and identity against the corrosive effects of warfare. Ultimately, Beah's struggle transcends the physical battles, as he combats the psychological scars of war and strives to regain humanity and find peace.
The narrative highlights similar fights throughout history, where individuals and communities struggle against overpowering forces, whether it be for basic rights, against cultural annihilation, or for economic and racial equality. These battles are deeply rooted in the human desire for dignity, justice, and self-determination, as shown through Trudell's advocacy for natural rights over materialism and Ellison's exploration of individual identity and liberation.
In Beah's case, the fight is not just against the rebels he's forced to confront, but also against the loss of innocence and the challenge of rebuilding his life post-conflict. These complex layers of struggle are touchstones of Beah's narrative, bearing witness to the resilience of the human spirit in facing such adversity.