My Parent's Bedroom

In the short story “My Parent’s Bedroom” by Uwem Akpan, the country of Rwanda is having a civil war between the Hutus and Tutsis, the primary trying to eradicate the latter. The Hutus force Papa to kill Maman, which she convinces him that it was only solution. However, it wasn’t the best choice in his family’s situation. The Wizard and the Hutus arrive to ensure that Papa slays his Tutsi spouse, Maman. Papa murders her to please the crowd, “If you let any Tutsi live, you’re dead. And then they begin to leave, some patting him on the back,” (27). I find this to be the only major decision made in the story because it severs the whole family’s connection with one another, and especially leaves Monique traumatized. There were few consequences,