Salva In A Long Walk To Water Essay Sample

In the heart-warming novel, A Long Walk To Water by Linda Sue Park, Salva just wants to be with his family in his village. Salva, one of the main characters, lives in South Sudan with his family in the Dinka tribe. One day when Salva is at school the rebels go through Salva’s village causing him and everyone else in his tribe to flee. Because of this Salva walked with other people from his tribe in hopes to find the rest of family and tribe. Then, after years of walking and staying in refugee camps Salva gets sent to America to have a better life. Throughout the story, Salva shows strength courage and perseverance on his journey  to reclaim his life as a normal person.

One thing that helped Salva in the book A Long Walk To Water is his Uncles words. This is shown when the text says on page 41, “Listening to Uncle, hurrying to stay close to him, Salva was able to make his feet move despite the cold terror throughout his whole body” (Park 41)this shows that Salva was able to pursue his journey because of his Uncle being with him and talking to him, this is because Salva wants to be with atleast some of his family, even if he doesn’t know if the rest of his family’s okay. This is also shown when page 65 is states, “but Salva knew that both of them would have wanted him to survive”(Park 65). This took place after his best friend and Uncle had died, and Salva continued on because he knew that they both would have wanted Salva to continue on his journey instead of moping around. Then, this is lastly shown on page 71 when the author wrote, “Salva realized what Uncle had truly meant-Something Salva had known in his heart for a long time”(Park 71). This shows that Salva’s Uncles words are important to him, because he is still thinking about his Uncles words heavily, even after his Uncle has died. These pieces of evidence all show that Salva persevered throughout his Journey to reclaim his life.

Another thing that helped Salva survive on his journey was the hope that his family is still alive and trying to find him as well. This is shown when the author stated on page 67, “Salva looked around at the masses of people stretched out as far as he could see. He felt his heart sink a little, but he clenched his hands into fists and made himself a promise. If they are here, I will find them”(Park 67). This shows that Salva is actively trying to find the rest of his family, and he promises himself that he will find them if they are there with him. Another time where this is shown is on page 69 when the book states, “He could still see the vivid spot of orange-yes, it was a head scarf- the woman’s back was to him, but she was tall, like his mother-he had to catch up, there were too many people in the way-”(Park 69). This shows that Salva is extremely happy with the possibility that he has found someone else in his family. I know this because of the line “but she was tall, like his mother-he had to catch up,” this shows that he has a strong hope that the woman in the head scarf is his mother because he is trying to catch up to her. A third time when we see that his family gave him hope was on page 72 when the text states, “I am alone now. I am all that is left of my family. His father, who had sent Salva to school… brought him treats, like mangoes… trusted him to take care of the herd…His mother, always ready with food and milk and a soft hand to stroke Salva’s head. His brothers and sisters, whom he had laughed with and played with and looked after… He would never see them again. How can I go on without them?”(Park 72) This part of the text shows how sad he becomes when he realizes that he will never be able to see his family again, and they have probably all died. This shows that his family gave him the courage to go on, because realizing that they are gone, he has lost most of the courage that he was able to build up on the journey hoping that he will get reunited with his family.

The final thing that helped Salva on his journey was that he wanted to prove to himself and others that he is brave and helpful, despite the fact that he may just be a child. This is proven when the text states, “Salva lifted his head proudly. They are wrong, and I will prove it”(Park 66). This shows that Salva wanted to show people that he was capable of doing things with the line “I will prove it” this is also shown on page 65 of the book when the author states, “but Salva knew that both of them would have wanted him to survive”(Park 66). This shows that people close to him would have wanted him to continue and be strong, even if he didn’t have them with him, and Salva wanted to honor what they wanted, this is shown with portion from the stating, “but Salva knew that both of them…” this shows that Salva agreed with what his dead friend and Uncle would have wanted him to do.

To sum everything up, the thesis of the book is that Salva had strength, courage and perseverance to walk throughout Sudan to try and reclaim his life.  Salva prayed for his life to return back to normal, to be with his family back at his village and that he will never have to leave. However, although Salva can’t go back to his village, he does get reunited with his family, who are still back in South Sudan while he is in America raising money so he can go back to Sudan and give the people there better lives with running water.