What Is the What Summary

The Enduring Power of Storytelling

Valentino's decision to tell his story, prompted by the home invasion, is central to the novel. He believes that sharing his experiences is essential for understanding, remembrance, and healing. His narrative is about the human need to make sense of trauma and to communicate it to others, bridging cultural divides. By recounting the horrors he faced and the lessons he learned, he gives voice not only to himself but to all the 'Lost Boys' and victims of war, ensuring their experiences are not forgotten. The book's structure, moving between present and past, emphasizes the act of narration.

“I will tell you what happened. I will tell you everything. But I will tell you in my own time, in my own way. I will tell you the story of my life. This is what I want to do. This is what I must do.”

Loss of Innocence and the Search for Home

The novel shows Valentino's abrupt loss of innocence when his village is attacked. He is forced to grow up quickly, facing death, starvation, and violence at a very young age. This theme is linked to his constant search for 'home' – first a safe place, then a place of belonging, and finally a sense of internal peace. From Marial Bai to Pinyudo, Kakuma, and eventually America, Valentino is always looking for a place where he can feel secure and truly belong, a place that can replace the home he lost. This search is not just physical but also spiritual and emotional.

“What is the what? It is the thing that makes us go. It is the thing that takes us from one place to another. It is the thing that makes us leave home, and then makes us want to find it again.”

Shared Humanity and the Cycles of Violence

A theme is Valentino's ability to see shared humanity even in his oppressors, both in Sudan and in America. He reflects on the desperation of the Arab militia and the lostness of the young men who rob him in Atlanta, refusing to paint them as purely evil. This perspective challenges simple ideas of good versus evil, suggesting that violence often comes from cycles of poverty, ignorance, and historical injustice. By drawing parallels between the violence in Sudan and the crime in America, the novel highlights the universal nature of suffering and the need for compassion across all divides.

“They were young men, and they were lost. Just like I had been lost, so many years ago. But their lostness was different. Their lostness was a choice, in some ways.”

Resilience and the Will to Survive

Valentino's entire journey shows the strength of the human spirit. Despite enduring war, starvation, disease, forced marches, and displacement, he consistently finds the will to survive. This strength comes from internal resilience, the bonds of friendship, and hope for a better future. The narrative shows not just individual endurance but also the collective strength of the 'Lost Boys' who supported each other through dire circumstances, demonstrating humanity's capacity to persist against overwhelming odds.

“We were not just surviving, we were living. We were learning. We were becoming. We were the Lost Boys, and we were found.”

The Promise and Disillusionment of America

For Valentino and many Lost Boys, America represents the promise of safety, opportunity, and freedom. The novel explores both the fulfillment of this promise and the subsequent disillusionment. While America offers refuge and a chance for education, Valentino also encounters cultural misunderstandings, materialism, loneliness, and crime (the home invasion). He deals with adapting to a new society while reconciling it with the trauma of his past. The American dream is presented as real but also nuanced, challenging, and not without its own struggles.

“America was a land of wonders, a land of plenty. But it was also a land of loneliness, a land of confusion. It was a land that promised everything, and sometimes gave nothing.”

Framing Device: The Home Invasion

Valentino's present-day robbery in Atlanta frames and punctuates his past narrative.

The home invasion serves as a powerful framing device, interweaving the present-day narrative with Valentino's extensive flashbacks. It grounds the epic historical journey in a contemporary, personal crisis. The immediate threat in his Atlanta apartment provides both a dramatic impetus for his storytelling and a poignant contrast to the earlier, larger-scale violence he experienced. This device allows the author to explore the lingering effects of trauma, the complexities of different forms of violence, and Valentino's reflective process as he recounts his life under duress, highlighting that even in safety, the past can intrude.

First-Person Narrative (with authorial intervention)

Valentino recounts his own story, but the author's presence is acknowledged.

The novel is primarily told from Valentino Achak Deng's first-person perspective, giving an intimate and authentic voice to his experiences. This narrative choice allows readers to deeply connect with his emotional journey, thoughts, and reflections. However, the author, Dave Eggers, occasionally breaks the fourth wall, acknowledging his role in transcribing and shaping Valentino's story. This meta-narrative element adds a layer of authenticity and self-awareness, reminding the reader that this is a true story, meticulously documented, and emphasizes the collaborative nature of its creation. It reinforces the idea of the 'story' itself as a powerful entity.

Juxtaposition

Contrasting scenes and experiences to highlight thematic connections.

Juxtaposition is used throughout the novel to draw stark comparisons between Valentino's experiences. The idyllic life in Marial Bai is juxtaposed with the brutal attack that follows. The relative safety of Pinyudo is juxtaposed with the forced exodus across the Gilo River. Most notably, the violence and hardship of Sudan are juxtaposed with the challenges and different forms of 'lostness' Valentino encounters in modern America, particularly during the home invasion. This device emphasizes the universality of certain human experiences—suffering, resilience, and the search for belonging—across vastly different cultural and geographical contexts.

Symbolism of the 'What'

The ambiguous 'what' represents the unknowable future, fate, or underlying truth.

The title itself, 'What Is the What,' refers to an abstract concept that Valentino grapples with throughout his life. The 'what' symbolizes the elusive meaning behind his suffering, the unknown path of the future, the ultimate purpose of his survival, or perhaps the fundamental truth of human existence. It represents the questions that cannot be fully answered, the forces beyond individual control, and the constant search for understanding in a world often devoid of clear logic. It encourages readers to ponder the deeper philosophical implications of Valentino's journey.