Q. In times of upheaval, it is one’s family that is important. Discuss. First They Killed My Father is a highly emotional, moving account of the survival of a family – a family brought together through challenging times. The importance of family in the survival of Loung and her siblings throughout and beyond the Khmer Rouge years cannot be overstressed.
Essential family values such as a mother’s love for her children, obedience to caring father’s advice and cooperation with each other through putting aside of differences all were important factors in the survival of Loung. Tough times can either strengthen or destroy relationships. While Pa had excellent relationships with all his family members, the relationships among Loung and her siblings were greatly improved and strengthened through hard times. Hard times, such as the death of Keav, created an awareness of the family’s need for each other and the importance of how they treated one another. Relationships are often hindered by weaknesses and flaws in individuals which lead to arguments.
This is also true of family relationships. However, in times of upheaval, when people have no choice but to turn to one another, the experience forces them to overlook weaknesses and flaws. We can observe this through the progression of Loung and Chou’s relationship. Forced to put aside their differences, Loung and Chou are drawn closer together.
(quote… ) Working together is another important aspect of family life portrayed in First They Killed My Father. In order for relationships to move forward, sacrifice is often necessary. This may be in the form of helping others such as sharing, however often at one’s own expense. The examples of Khoury and Meng providing leftovers for their family and the numerous sacrifices made by Pa, Ma and Kim for the good of the family are expressions of how much those in their family mattered to them.
The Essay on Change in Family Relationships
Significant life events can negatively impact family relationships, since the family is often strained to respond to the changes brought upon by these events. Because of her parents' divorce, the narrator is only able to see her father once per week. This limitation in face-to-face contact strains their relationship. To make things worse, when the narrator turns ten, she is introduced to her “ ...
Loyalty The power of family on one’s life is shown through Loung’s refusal to listen to Met Bong’s demands that all children betray their own parents to gain favour with the Khmer Rouge. This is a vivid display of how much Loung valued her family above all. The last gathering is a vivid picture of the closeness of family. Despite having been apart for so long, the Ung family is still together in the way that they enjoy and treasure each others’ company.
Loung’s tragic loss of her Father, Mother and youngest sister Geak, leaves her with no father or mother. These deaths have a severe emotional impact on Loung… From this we get a glimpse of the power that family relationships have in Loung’s life. After Loung has lost both of her parents she is left with an empty space in her life – the two most essential elements in her family are gone. Loung dives into a short-lived quest for a family like her own. We see this in her observations of a foster family (quote).
From this we see Loung’s longing for a family which she no longer has. Family is constituted by individuals who live and work together. In the case of the Ung family, we see a high level of cooperation amongst the members, striving for survival. Although sadly Keav, Pa, Ma and Geak failed to survive, these deaths occurred beyond the control and influence of family. However we see the memories and influence of those who didn’t survive live on and the relationships are never severed, even by death. “Still with us in spirit…
.” (p… ).
Nothing could end these relationships, not even death. This was evident from Loung’s relationship with Pa. Pa lives on in her memories..
