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David T. Kichiro
Mr.Bigelow
English 10
24 November 2014
Inanimate Object
During tough times there are many things that can cheer a person up such as an inanimate
object. An inanimate object is something that reminds a person of certain things or also can be a
comforter or entertainer to a person. In many books inanimate objects play a very important role.
This is true in Ishmael Beahs, A Long Way Gone. In this book a very important inanimate object
to Beah is his cassette player. The cassette player literally saves Beahs life and also brings
entertainment and joy to him. This cassette player is also significant to Beah by keeping him
from being a monster and reminding him of his childhood.
Ishmael Beahs cassette player literally saves his life also brings him joy and
entertainment. There were many times where Beah was stopped and almost killed for looking
like he was in the RUF. In one of the cases the cassette player literally saves his life: At the end
of the song a look of amusement flickered on his face. He ordered that all my friends be untied
and free (68). Without the cassette player the boys most likely would have been killed and
accused of being rebels. This shows how significant the cassette player is by helping them be
free after being tied up and stripped for looking like rebels. Also the quote proves that the
cassette player was an important object to the book. The cassette player also brought joy to Beah
acting as entertainment. At times Beah would listen to his cassette with so much joy: We would

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practice miming the rap songs we had memorized for fun (7). During the war all Beah can think
about is the attack on his village and family. With the cassette player being around it sometimes
changed the mood Beah was in and help Beah forget about whatever was happening. This shows
the significance of the cassette player bringing happiness to Beah. Also supports the claim of the
cassette players purpose in the book.
The cassette players significance is shown through Ismael Beah by keeping him from
being a monster and reminding him about his childhood. Throughout the book Beah starts to gain
some monstrous characteristics. One characteristic was after being in the war for so long he did
not want any medical attention from a nurse until one day he did not care because of music: I
didnt care because the song has taken hold of me (154). This shows how music can change a
person. The quote also proves how much this inanimate object has helped Beah be tamed or
changed. Also this shows the significance of the cassette player keeping Beah from being a
monster. The inanimate object or cassette player really plays a big role in the book A Long Way
Gone. Throughout Beahs childhood the cassette player was his comforter. Listening to his music
always reminded him of his past: I bowed my head as I delved into my past (155). Before the
war Beah would perform at many places dancing with his cassette player. This provides
explanation of why the cassette player was so significant to him. The cassette player being in
Beahs past was one memory he had always remembered. This also proves that music was
important because it reminded him of his childhood.
In many books objects play important roles such as the cassette player in A Long Way
Gone. The purpose of the cassette player was to save Ismael Beahs life and to entertain him.
Also the purposes significance was to keep him from being a monster or gaining monstrous

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characteristics and also to remind him of his childhood. In conclusion the inanimate object that
played an important role to this book was his cassette player.