When We Were Orphans

Main Ideas

• Exploration of the theme of memory and its unreliability, how it shapes and distorts the perception of the past.
• The theme of identity and the search for self through the lens of childhood memories and traumas.
• Examination of the impact of childhood traumas on adult life and personal development.
• The theme of loneliness and isolation, both physical and emotional.
• Exploration of the theme of loss and attempts to recover what has been lost, whether it be family, home, or a sense of belonging.
• Questions of morality and ethics in the context of personal and professional decisions.
• The theme of colonialism and its consequences, both on a personal and societal level.