Throughout the story, one can easily see when Ishmael is at different levels of the hierarchy. When Ishmael is deprived of food, he cannot concentrate on anything else and uses desperate measures to obtain food. After leaving Mattru Jong for the second time, Ishmael says: "We were so hungry that it hurt to drink water and we felt cramps in our guts... One evening we actually chased a little boy who was eating alone two ears of boiled corn. » (Beah 30). Although this may seem harsh and uncalled for, it must be remembered that, according to drive reduction theory, when humans lack a physiological need, as Ishmael lacked food, they are simply compelled to reduce that need. Additionally, he is not able to find safety or connect with the people around him until his physiological needs are met. Once Ishmael has been fed, he can focus on finding safety. Once this goal is achieved, he can connect with his friends and really start thinking about his future. For example, when the boys connected over the story of Bra Spider, they had food and water on hand, as well as a village to sleep in. They were able to tell and listen to a story to bond with each other because they didn't. They don't have to worry about meeting their most basic needs. For much of the book, Ishmael is stripped of his physiological and safety needs, leading him to think only of the present. While his life is