Cartagena by Nam Le Literature Essay Example

📌Category: Books
📌Words: 806
📌Pages: 3
📌Published: 08 April 2022

Nam Le’s ‘The Boat’ is a compilation of raw stories that portrays experiences of individuals worldwide. Throughout ‘Cartagena', Nam Le explores the idea that being subjected to loss of childhood/innocence and emotions can give an individual a valuable approach on the perspective of life. Le’s use of literary techniques, Pablo's loss of a parent, being kidnapped, and having to support his mother as a child assassin are all elements that contribute to the themes of loss of innocence and emotions. Juan Pablo being exposed to such traumatic experiences at such a young age, demonstrates readers to be grateful for the life we have.

In 'Cartagena’ loss is depicted in reference to Jaun losing his father at such a young age, resulting in an awareness of how a person's childhood upbringing may be difficult. The importance of appreciating life is highlighted to the readers. Nam Le uses honest imagery to capture Jaun’s surroundings to show how poverty is so normalised. “passing buildings made of brick, of cement blocks, of wood and plastic and street kids scavenge for food by the roadside.” (Pg. 35) This vivid description of life in Colombia illustrates the difference between living in a developed country in comparison to a third world country. When Jaun Pablo had only “nine years” his father would pass away as a result of his mistake of “challenging his attackers.” This reflects the harsh reality of Colombia, where violence and crime are rampant. As a result of his father’s death Juan’s mother pushes his grief away and to “think nothing of it..for [he] is a man now.” This emphasises Jaun's need to handle his father's loss quickly, sacrificing his youth to step in and take his father's place in order to support him and his mother. The use of Juan' loss of adolescence emphasises awareness of the importance of life.

"Cartagena" highlights the theme of loss of innocence/emotions in connection to how Jaun Pablo responds when he survives getting kidnapped. This demonstrates to the readers that losing one's innocence/emotions to trauma at an early age can bring a new perspective of being grateful of one's own life. When Jaun Pablo and his friend, Hernando are arguing with a “business leader,'' a policeman steps in and arrests them, taking them to a “police station.” It turns out to be a, leading the boys “west, high and higher, into steep slumland.” This insinuates that Jaun Pablo and Hernando were kidnapped in order to be trafficked or sexually abused, demonstrating that a police force tasked with enforcing the law is involved in corruption and the criminal underworld. Luckily, Hernando was able to escape, rescuing Juan Pablo. Hernando hands him a gun, to kill the policeman as a pact to be “in it together.” As Juan was about to pull the trigger, “the policeman's flesh around his mouth had gone loose.” According to Jaun, this was “a sign of fear. having no hesitation, reveals Juan's willingness to kill a guy, as he has lost his sense of being a child and is no longer afraid. The way Juan describes fear demonstrates how Juan's emotions are lost throughout his development, with him simply being able to sense the concept of various emotions but not being able to express them. Juan Pablo reacts to his trauma, shows the reader a new perspective of valuing one's own life.

In ‘Cartagena,’ Nam Le portrays the theme of loss of innocence in regards to the effects of Jaun Pablo having to resort to crime in order to support his mother. This demonstrates the outcome of awareness surrounding privileges, highlighting the importance of life. Juan Pablo when just starting his “desk job,” being an assassin,he reaped all the benefits, such as “the salary, the bonuses, the respect from the barrio.” It soon took a turn for the worse when Juan “was given the order to assassinate” Hernando, his best friend. This poses a moral dilemma for Jaun, as having a job to support his mother and protecting his closest friend, who is like a brother to him, are both essential to him. This indicates that, while Juan is receiving a lot of advantages, there is always a catch when it comes to illicit activity. As Jaun Pablo makes the decision to not kill Hernando, he gets “summoned” to El padre. This clearly indicates how disobeying an order can prove fatal to Juanl, as well as the loss of his innocence when he realises he will not live no matter what he does. The location "Cartagena" is crucial in the story as it was Juan Pablo's desire to visit the place, his scapegoat when reality took a turn for the worse, and it eventually came to symbolise Juan's heaven, as he pictured the city in such detail, moments before his demise. Using the effects of Juan’s participation in criminal activity, It shows the reader about the value of life and how to appreciate privileges.

Consequently, the only thing that can provide us an understanding of life is loss. Through use of Nam Le’s symbolism and imagery, Pablo's loss of a parent, being kidnapped, and having to support his mother as a child assassin, readers are able to see the hardships which can provide an individual with a valuable perspective.

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