Atlanta: A Door Opens

Valentino Achak Deng, a Sudanese refugee, answers a knock at his Atlanta apartment door. A woman claims car trouble and asks to use his phone. Trusting, he lets her in, only to be ambushed by her partner, Powder, who brandishes a gun. As they rob him, Achak's mind drifts between the immediate danger and memories of his past, the traumas of war, and the long journey that brought him to America. The robbery becomes a catalyst for reflection, exposing the vulnerability and alienation he feels in his new country, and the persistent shadow of violence that follows him.

Robbery and Memory

As Achak is beaten and tied up, his mind oscillates between the present and the past. The trauma of the robbery in Atlanta echoes the violence he witnessed and survived in Sudan. He recalls the betrayals and dangers of his childhood, the loss of innocence, and the constant threat of death. The robbers' indifference and cruelty remind him of the arbitrary brutality of war, and he finds himself longing for the harsh but familiar world of the refugee camps, where suffering was communal and survival a shared struggle.

Lost Boys on the Run

Achak's childhood is shattered when Arab militias attack his Dinka village, Marial Bai. Separated from his family, he joins thousands of other boys—soon to be known as the Lost Boys—fleeing on foot across Sudan. The journey is harrowing: starvation, thirst, wild animals, and militia attacks claim many lives. Achak witnesses friends die from hunger, disease, and violence. The boys form makeshift families, clinging to each other for survival, but the trauma of loss and the constant threat of death leave deep scars.

Childhood in Marial Bai

Before the war, Achak's life in Marial Bai is filled with family, tradition, and the rhythms of rural Sudanese life. He recalls his mother's yellow dress, his father's shop, and the games he played with friends. The village is a place of community and ritual, where cattle are wealth and stories are passed down through generations. This lost world becomes an emotional anchor for Achak, a symbol of what was destroyed by war and displacement.

War Arrives, Family Scatters

The civil war erupts in Marial Bai, bringing government soldiers, rebel factions, and Arab militias. Achak's family is torn apart as the village is attacked, homes are burned, and people are killed or enslaved. Achak's father tries to remain neutral, but is eventually targeted. The family flees, but is separated in the chaos. Achak's journey becomes one of survival and longing for reunion, as he is forced to grow up quickly in a world where trust is dangerous and loss is constant.

Surviving the Desert

The trek across Sudan and into Ethiopia is a crucible. Achak and the other boys face starvation, dehydration, and predation by animals and humans alike. Many die along the way, and Achak learns to suppress grief in order to keep moving. The boys are used as "aid bait" by rebel groups, and their suffering becomes a tool for attracting international attention. Achak's memories of home and family sustain him, but the relentless hardship leaves him emotionally numb.

Ethiopia: Refuge and Betrayal

In Ethiopia, the boys find temporary refuge in the Pinyudo camp. There is food, water, and the promise of education, but also new dangers: disease, violence, and exploitation by both the SPLA and local groups. Achak becomes a "burial boy," helping to bury the dead. The camp is militarized, and many boys are conscripted as child soldiers. When the Ethiopian government falls, the refugees are violently expelled, forced to cross the crocodile-infested Gilo River under fire, suffering massive casualties.

Pinyudo: Hope and Disillusion

Pinyudo offers a glimpse of stability: school, friends, and the possibility of a future. Achak forms close bonds, experiences first love, and dreams of returning home. But the camp is rife with violence, corruption, and the ever-present threat of war. Executions, forced labor, and the manipulation of aid undermine any sense of safety. The collapse of the Ethiopian regime brings chaos, and Achak is once again forced to flee, this time to Kenya.

Kakuma: Years in Limbo

In Kenya's Kakuma camp, Achak spends nearly ten years. Life is a mix of hardship and adaptation: hunger, disease, and violence persist, but there are also moments of community, education, and hope. Achak becomes a youth leader, organizes sports and drama, and forms deep friendships. The camp is a microcosm of Sudanese society, with its own hierarchies, politics, and struggles. The dream of resettlement in the West becomes a distant beacon, but the reality of camp life is one of stagnation and deferred dreams.

Coming of Age, Coming Apart

As Achak grows into adulthood, he faces new challenges: the loss of friends to war, disease, and emigration; the pressure to join the SPLA; and the complexities of love and identity. He falls in love with Tabitha, a fellow refugee, but their relationship is shaped by the trauma and instability of their lives. The promise of resettlement in America brings hope, but also anxiety about leaving behind family, culture, and the only world he has known.

Love, Loss, and Longing

In America, Achak is reunited with some friends and begins a relationship with Tabitha, who has also resettled. Their love is a source of healing, but is ultimately destroyed by violence: Tabitha is murdered by a jealous ex-boyfriend. Achak is devastated, haunted by guilt and the sense that tragedy follows him. The loss of Tabitha becomes emblematic of the losses he has suffered throughout his life, and he struggles to find meaning and hope amid grief.

The American Dream Deferred

Life in America is not the paradise Achak imagined. He faces racism, poverty, and alienation. Menial jobs, bureaucratic obstacles, and the pressure to support family back home weigh heavily. The Lost Boys are celebrated as model refugees, but many struggle with trauma, isolation, and the burden of expectations. Achak's pursuit of education and stability is slow and fraught with setbacks. The violence and insecurity of his past are mirrored in the dangers and disappointments of his new life.

Strangers in a Strange Land

Achak navigates the complexities of American society: cultural misunderstandings, the indifference of institutions, and the challenge of forging identity in a place that is both opportunity and exile. He finds support in sponsors, friends, and the Sudanese community, but also encounters betrayal, exploitation, and the limits of charity. The past is never far away, and Achak's sense of self is shaped by the tension between memory and adaptation.

Violence Follows, Past and Present

The violence that defined Achak's childhood in Sudan reappears in America: the robbery in Atlanta, the murder of Tabitha, and the struggles of other Lost Boys. Achak reflects on the persistence of suffering, the randomness of fate, and the difficulty of healing. He questions the meaning of survival and the cost of endurance, wondering if he is cursed or simply unlucky. The trauma of the past is never fully escaped, and the present is marked by both resilience and vulnerability.

The Weight of Survival

Achak grapples with survivor's guilt: why did he live when so many others died? He feels responsible for telling the stories of those who were lost, and for living a life worthy of their sacrifice. Gratitude for the help he has received is mixed with frustration at the limits of charity and the indifference of the world. Achak's identity is shaped by the stories he tells and the memories he carries, and he is determined to bear witness, even as the weight threatens to crush him.

Searching for Home

Throughout his journey, Achak searches for home: the lost village of Marial Bai, the community of the Lost Boys, the promise of America, and the hope of return to Sudan. Home is both a place and a state of mind, always just out of reach. Achak's sense of belonging is complicated by displacement, trauma, and the demands of adaptation. He dreams of returning to Sudan, but is unsure if it is possible or even desirable. The search for home becomes a metaphor for the search for meaning and self.

The What Remains

In the end, Achak finds solace in storytelling, faith, and the connections he forges with others. The question "What is the What?"—the riddle at the heart of Dinka mythology—remains unanswered, but Achak comes to see it as the mystery of survival, the unknown future, and the possibility of grace amid suffering. He resolves to keep telling his story, to bear witness for those who cannot, and to find meaning in the act of endurance. The book closes with Achak's determination to live, to hope, and to fill the air with his words, for as long as he is able.

Characters

Valentino Achak Deng

Valentino is the protagonist and narrator, a Sudanese "Lost Boy" whose life is shaped by war, displacement, and the search for belonging. As a child, he is forced to flee his village, endure unimaginable hardship, and grow up in refugee camps. In America, he faces new challenges: alienation, poverty, and the persistence of trauma. Achak is introspective, resilient, and haunted by loss. His relationships—with family, friends, and lovers—are marked by longing and the struggle to trust. Achak's psychological journey is one of survival, guilt, and the quest for meaning. He is both a witness to history and an emblem of the endurance of the human spirit.

Achor Achor

Achor Achor is Achak's closest companion, a fellow Lost Boy who shares much of his journey from Sudan to America. Practical, organized, and quietly ambitious, Achor Achor provides stability and support for Achak. He is a leader among the Sudanese in Atlanta, but also struggles with the pressures of adaptation and the weight of the past. His relationship with Achak is brotherly, marked by mutual dependence, shared trauma, and the occasional tension of diverging dreams. Achor Achor's resilience and humor are a counterpoint to Achak's introspection.

Tabitha

Tabitha is Achak's first love, a fellow refugee whose intelligence, beauty, and independence captivate him. Their relationship is a source of healing and joy, but is ultimately destroyed by violence when Tabitha is murdered by a jealous ex-boyfriend. Tabitha represents both the possibility of new beginnings and the persistence of tragedy. Her death is a profound loss for Achak, deepening his sense of grief and survivor's guilt. Psychologically, Tabitha embodies the fragility of hope and the enduring impact of trauma.

Powder and Tonya

Powder and Tonya are the couple who rob and assault Achak in Atlanta. Their actions trigger the narrative's exploration of memory, trauma, and the continuity of violence from Sudan to America. They are both perpetrators and products of a society marked by desperation and alienation. Their indifference and cruelty echo the arbitrary brutality Achak experienced in war, blurring the line between victim and victimizer. Psychologically, they represent the dangers of trust and the unpredictability of human behavior.

Michael (TV Boy)

Michael is the young boy left to guard Achak during the robbery. He is both a participant in and a victim of the cycle of violence. His presence evokes Achak's memories of his own lost childhood, the vulnerability of children in a world of adults' conflicts, and the possibility of innocence amid corruption. Michael's confusion and fear mirror Achak's own as a child, and his actions—both cruel and pitiable—highlight the ways in which trauma is transmitted across generations.

Dut Majok

Dut is a teacher and leader among the Lost Boys, guiding Achak and others during their flight from Sudan. He is intelligent, resourceful, and committed to the boys' survival, but is also limited by the chaos and violence of their world. Dut's authority is both a source of comfort and a reminder of the inadequacy of adult protection in times of crisis. His psychological complexity lies in his struggle to balance hope and realism, leadership and helplessness.

Moses

Moses is one of Achak's childhood friends, a fellow Lost Boy whose journey is marked by abduction, slavery, and escape. He is resourceful, optimistic, and determined to survive, despite enduring profound trauma. Moses's story parallels and contrasts with Achak's, highlighting the diversity of experiences among the Lost Boys. Psychologically, Moses represents the possibility of healing and the importance of friendship in overcoming adversity.

Gop Chol

Gop is a teacher and surrogate parent to Achak in Kakuma. He provides stability, guidance, and a connection to Dinka culture and values. Gop's pragmatism and humor help Achak navigate the complexities of camp life, but he is also haunted by his own losses and the erosion of tradition. His relationship with Achak is paternal, marked by both affection and the limitations of what he can provide. Gop embodies the struggle to maintain identity and dignity in exile.

Noriyaki

Noriyaki is a Japanese project manager at Kakuma who befriends Achak and becomes a symbol of cross-cultural connection and generosity. His death in a car accident is a profound loss for Achak, reinforcing the randomness of tragedy and the fragility of hope. Noriyaki's kindness and commitment to the refugees challenge stereotypes and highlight the potential for solidarity across boundaries. Psychologically, he represents the possibility of trust and the pain of losing those who care.

The What

The What is the central riddle of Dinka mythology: the choice between the known (cattle) and the unknown (the What). It recurs throughout Achak's story as a metaphor for the uncertainties of survival, the mysteries of fate, and the search for meaning. The What is both a question and an answer, a symbol of the risks and possibilities that define human existence. Psychologically, it represents the tension between fear and hope, loss and possibility.

Plot Devices

Nonlinear Narrative and Memory

The novel employs a nonlinear structure, moving fluidly between Achak's present in Atlanta and his memories of Sudan, Ethiopia, and Kenya. This narrative device mirrors the psychological reality of trauma, where past and present are inseparable. The robbery in Atlanta serves as a trigger for Achak's memories, allowing the story to unfold in layers. The interplay of timelines creates a sense of dislocation and continuity, emphasizing the persistence of suffering and the difficulty of healing.

Storytelling as Survival

Storytelling is both a plot device and a theme: Achak's narration is an act of survival, a way to make sense of chaos and loss. The act of telling his story—to the reader, to himself, to those around him—is a means of asserting agency, preserving memory, and honoring the dead. The novel foregrounds the importance of testimony, the power of narrative to bear witness, and the necessity of being heard. Storytelling becomes a form of resistance against erasure and indifference.

The What: Symbol and Riddle

The Dinka myth of "What is the What?" recurs throughout the novel, serving as a symbol of the choices, risks, and uncertainties that define Achak's life. The What is the unknown future, the possibility of grace or disaster, the mystery at the heart of survival. The riddle is never fully answered, but its presence shapes Achak's understanding of his journey and the meaning of endurance. It is both a plot device and a philosophical question, inviting the reader to contemplate the nature of fate and faith.

Foreshadowing and Irony

The novel uses foreshadowing to build tension and underscore the inevitability of loss. Early scenes in Marial Bai are tinged with the knowledge of coming violence; moments of hope are often undercut by tragedy. Irony pervades the narrative: the promise of America as a land of safety is belied by new dangers; the Lost Boys are celebrated as survivors but remain marginalized. The interplay of hope and disappointment, expectation and reality, is a central dynamic.

Parallelism and Doubling

Events and relationships in Achak's life are echoed across time and place: the violence of Sudan is mirrored in Atlanta; the loss of family is repeated in the loss of friends and lovers; the search for home recurs in every new setting. Characters and situations double each other, highlighting the persistence of trauma and the difficulty of escape. The structure reinforces the sense that survival is both a personal and collective struggle, shaped by forces beyond individual control.

Analysis

What Is the What is a powerful meditation on survival, displacement, and the search for meaning in the aftermath of unimaginable loss. Through the life of Valentino Achak Deng, Dave Eggers explores the enduring impact of war, the complexities of identity, and the challenges of adaptation in a world that is both indifferent and interconnected. The novel interrogates the myth of the American dream, exposing the persistence of violence, racism, and alienation even in places of supposed refuge. At its heart is the riddle of "the What"—the unknown future, the risks and possibilities that define human existence. Achak's story is both singular and universal: a testament to the resilience of the human spirit, the necessity of bearing witness, and the hope that endures even in the face of suffering. The book challenges readers to confront the realities of global injustice, to listen to the stories of the displaced, and to recognize the shared humanity that binds us all.

Last updated: July 28, 2025