“A Long Walk to Water” Characters: Navigating
Tribal Tensions and Personal Trials Example
In the story, there are two characters, Nya and Salva. Salva was born in South Sudan and is a Dinka,
unlike Nya, who was born in South Sudan and was a Nuer. The Dinka and Nuer did not get along.
They fought for water, and the two tribes caused a war, soon hitting Salva's home. Salva faced
multiple challenges, but he survived them without his family. In general, Slava faced plenty of
challenges, some being separated from his family, traveling alone through the Gilo River, and
leaving Sudan to go to America.
The Challenges of Family Separation
One challenge Salva had to face was being separated from his family. He managed to survive, but
this affected Salva negatively because he lost his loved ones and was all alone. Salva being alone
made him ask himself questions like, "Where is my family? "When will I see them aging? "(9). Salva is
on his way to find someone or someplace to hide or stay while the war is going on. Salva found
himself confused and curious about what to do: either go back home or run from the war and
everything. Salva managed to survive the runaway by getting help. He got help from old Dinka
women who owned the barn he woke up in.
This happened because when Salva ran away, he found himself in a group of men and women and
older leds, but the soldier took the men, and Salva had no choice but to stay with the women and
the children. However, soon, they found a barn to sleep in, and by morning, they left Salva all alone.
Salva being alone once again affected him negatively because he was now alone. Luckily, Salva
found a Dinka woman who managed to help him survive for a few weeks, and in return, Salva
would go to the pound every day to fetch her water until the old lady had to go.
Salva kept asking himself the same questions: "What will I do?" "Where will I go?" The next day,
Salva asked the woman why he could not go with her, and the woman replied, "It will be too
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dangerous for me "(18). Salva understood but still needed to figure out what to do. The Dinka
women saw a group and asked If Salva could join them, and they said yes, even though they had
their differences about Salva coming along. Before Salva could go, the women gave him a handful
of raw panties for his journey.
Survival Against All Odds: Crossing the Gilo River
Another challenge Salva had to face was traveling alone through the Gilo River and the desert. Salva
going across the country by himself was challenging because the river is one of the most dangerous
things to do in Sudan. It was known for its giant, mighty crocodiles, which could kill him in a bite.
Salva knew that this journey would be one of the hardest things he would ever do, but if Salva
wanted to survive, he knew it would take much courage. Linda Sue Park states, "The soldiers were
chasing us towards the river "(79).
This quote shows that the soldiers did not want the refugees in the camp, and they wanted them
towards the river. "It felt like hours" (79). After Salva made it through the river, Salva wondered how
he was one of the lucky ones who made it to the Gilo River. Park states," Later, he would learn that
at least a thousand people died trying to cross the river that day" (79). This showed Salva that at
least one hundred people died trying to cross the river. They were either eaten, drowned, or shot
by the soldiers. Salva, being in the place of the leader, decided to go to another refugee camp, and
he became a leader of men and boys. He assigned tasks to everyone in the group in order to
survive.
An Unexpected Mentor: Salva’s Meeting with Michael
Soon, they were at the refugee camp. That is when Salva meets Michael; Savla is now twenty-two
years old. Salva lives in Kauma with "seventy thousand people; some said it was more, eighty or
ninety thousand" (84). Park states," Kauma had been a dreadful place." (84). Michal was an aid
worker from Ireland; in his free time, he would help Salva with the a, b, and c. Salva would enjoy
learning English, and he would practice every day. Salva would soon be able to talk a little.
The American Dream and The Struggle of Adaptation
The third challenge Salva had to face was leaving Sudan to go to America. For Salva to survive this,
he had to get used to the American culture. He had to adapt to the American ways. This was going
to be a massive change for Salva and his life. Park states, "The rumor was spreading through the
camp." (87). Salva could not think of anything else. The rumor was that about three thousand boys
and young men from the refugee camp would be chosen to go live in America." (87-88) This rumor
got Salva thinking, what if they do not want me? What if I am too old? The day came when the list
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came out. Salva hugged to check the list, but his name was absent. Soon after, Michel rushed to
Salva's tent." Salva! Come quickly. Your name is on the list today!" (89).
Salva went running, and Salve finally felt hope. Salva looked at the list. There was his name. Salva
could not believe he was going to America. However, Salva, with the joy he had, did not think about
anything else. The day came when Salva had to leave Sudan. He said goodbye to Michael. However,
on his way to America, Salva had to face Language and memoirs. Soon, Salva hit winter. At first,
Salva did not know what winter was because, in Sudan, it was always hot. Soon, the woman that
was taking care of them came in.
Reference
Park, L. S. (2010). A Long Walk to Water. Clarion Books.