The Poisonwood Bible: Book One: Genesis Notes
·
1. Notable
elements of literature/ chapter response, “analysis”:
o After
the exhaustive Pride and Prejudice note entries I have decided that (at least
for this novel) I would, rather then focus particularly on the exact minute
details of plot/ giving pleonastic responses or summaries, emphasize (with
brevity) the generalities/subtleties of the Author’s respective
style/rhetoric/thematical development. In other words probably the exact same
structure as Pride and prejudice entries without individual, reductionist,
chapter responses (instead I will be giving more holistic Book responses). Anyways,
let’s begin.
o Again,
after the arguably blunt, flowerless, prose of Jane Austen’s 17th
century style, Miss Kingsolver’s rich (nearly biblical…) writing is extremely
welcoming/easier to follow with modernized text (within the realms of half a
century writing countering two centuries with Austen).
o From
the outset I am intrigued by this novel’s structure not only emulating a “Book”
divided bible structure (complete with bible excerpts/proverbs preceding) but
more so I am interested by its individual narrators. Each piece told by a
differing character? (in Africa no less, more interesting then Elizabethan England or our own homeland that’s
for sure) Sign me up.
o Introduced
byway of a seemingly cold omniscient narrator (Orleanna the mother as she later
claims) Orleanna describes this “bible” as essentially a recount of her time in
the rural Congolese village
of Kilanga. I can already
tell (as it is connoted by Orleanna’s dark/guilty tone she begins with)
something “bad” has or will in the course of the story transpire to her family
(“mother of children living and dead”)
o Also
the father is definitely a stable character (and I don’t mean stable as in a
solid foundation or horse corral) he is an archetype of a zealot missionary
ready “cleanse” the masses of their paganistic ways. Fitting as he is one.
o More
strong willed/diverse female leads with the Price children? Beginning to see a
pattern between Pride and Prejudice
·
2. Notable
writing tools, techniques and rhetoric:
o “…mother
of children living and dead.” Foreshadowing! Not just that this supports my
mentioning of Orleana’s dark/guilty tone. It obvious something will/has
happened.
o “And
in reply a choir of seedlings arching their necks out of rotted tree trunks
sucking the life out of death. The forest eats itself and lives forever.”
Depressing, or biblical perhaps (it reminds me of the dark tone of Cormack
McCarthy’s The Road) Kingsolver’s
writing denotes the guilt-ridden voice of Orleanna with descriptive yet
somewhat unnerving imagery. I like it!
o “One
has only a life of one’s own.” Orleanna to her daughters confirms my belief
that Mr. Price will be a zealot no doubt she even stating “I married a man who
could never love me. Probably. It would have trespassed on his devotion to all
mankind”.
o “We
aimed for no more than to have dominion over every creature that moved upon the
earth. And so it came to pass that we stepped down there on a place we believed
unformed, where only darkness moved on the face of the waters.” Kingsolver
connotes the idea of many cultures who endeavor to enlighten another with
religious quests of evangelism. Like all who have quest before them, the Prices
believe themselves to derive from an advanced/cultured, a superior civilization
and are unquestioning in their position as superior to said “uncivilized
peoples”, like the Kilanga kind. Bet this will be expanded upon.
·
3. Other
(notable quotations, miscellaneous, etc.):
o “That
one time and no other the Okapi came to the stream, and I was the only one to
see it.” Okapi? I didn’t know this was fantasy.
The Poisonwood Bible: The things we carried
Notes
·
1. Notable
elements of literature/ chapter response, “analysis”:
o Again
I’m liking the transition of narration, it not only gives breath to the reader
with variety but also allows Kingsolver to visit a plethora of themes. Thus is
her intention no doubt.
o Leah
gives way the title the things we carried
describing the various “essential” items the Prices pack and even go as far as
smuggle to beat the limits. Funny, even she doubts their necessity and rather
perceives them as a burden, a relevant theme to our time period as we today
cant go without amenities like electricity, etc. while other cultures (the
Kilangas for example) not only survive but are content, happy with minimal
materials. Relevant indeed.
o “Jimmy
Crow makes the laws.” (Ruth compares the segregated blacks of America to that
of Africans) Ruth May is definitely only five, possessing a child’s innocuous
yet often times clearer perspective of events/meanings is engaging and also
belies the evangelist undertones of Mr. Price.
o Wow.
Rachel Price’s passage/perspective serves as an example of the apparent
“superiority” / sensibilities (with Mr. Price criticizing the Kilangas for lack
of clothes) that more “advanced” cultures wield over such “savages” as the
Kilangas. I’m sensing some pride, maybe prejudice from this girl.
o I
find it hilarious how Adah Price (but not hilarious is her condition) points
out the ironic modesty of the Kilangas exposed breast to their negative
reaction of the Price’s exposed legs. It goes to show the divisive differences
of culture and the hypocritical aspect of an enlightened (like the Price’s)
culture not understanding this fact.
·
2. Notable
writing tools, techniques and rhetoric:
o “This
was the full measure of civilization’s evils we felt obliged to carry with us.”
Leah expresses the presented idea above of an advanced civilization “needing” a
array of accoutrement to feel safe/happy, while the “cultureless” Kilanga’s do
not.
o “Ham
was the youngest one, like me, and he was bad. Sometimes I am bad too.” I like
how Kingsolver completely changes the tone, structure, as well as general
vernacular for each respective character piece. With Ruth May she literally
deconstructs her structure to fit a child’s storytelling, stripping it of the
biblical prose for a more simplified, clearer perspicacity.
·
3. Other
(notable quotations, miscellaneous, etc.):
o “My
father was bringing the voice of god- which fortunately ways nothing at all.”
Leah. God could the prose of this book be anymore unnerving, the tone is, whether
intentional or not, reveling in a sense of impending consequence. Just a little
perturbing. A little…
The Poisonwood Bible: The things we
carried (Part deux?) notes
·
1. Notable
elements of literature/ chapter response, “analysis”:
o How
laughable is Leah’s recount of her father (and thru him Kingsolver’s
connotations) as he attempts to teach the natives agricultural ways, he getting
taught himself (i.e the eponymous Poisonwood; a/the symbol!). This “Poisonwood”
event (and after as Leah/ her father) connotes Kingsolver’s theme again of the
blind pride or apparent superiority (the hubris) that the Prices or advanced
civilizations say they possess. I’m glad Price got “bit”.
o The
idea again that advanced cultures despite their “enlightened minds” cant comprehend
or rather refuse to comprehend the natives practices/perspectives is again
reflected in the symbol of the Price garden (and even the reverend’s failed
baptisms due to the villages preoccupation with crocodiles in the local river) as
they refused to hear out the villager’s aid (i.e. mounds under plants to
prevent flat-ground flooding) as well as the fact that the Prices don’t realize
why their garden doesn’t produce fruit, spreading like a purposeless vegetative
virus. Subsequently Kingsolver uses the Price garden to symbolize said lack of
honoring or even really hearing out the perspectives of the locals, the garden
itself (of an advanced cultures providence) as useless as the Price’s
evangelist, words of god (to the villagers lives).
·
2. Notable
writing tools, techniques and rhetoric:
o “OW!
Great God Almighty, Orleanna. How did this curse come to me when it is God’s
will to plant in the soil!” Kingsolver thru Mr. Price consolidates the
symbolism of the garden expressed above as Mr. Price (through his God,
symbolizing his culture’s beliefs, schemata) cant realize that his culture’s
practices as well as perspective is as out of place and useless to the
Kilanga’s as is his garden efforts.
·
3. Other
(notable quotations, miscellaneous, etc.):
o I’m
going to eliminate this section because its essentially just a secluded addon
bulletin of the above two. I might bring it back if something catches me (more
so if I find something I can make “light” of : )
The Poisonwood Bible: Book Two:
Revelation Notes
·
Notable
elements of literature/ chapter response, “analysis”:
o Will
be doing my holistic entries now (i.e. analyzing what I deem specific in the
individual Books)
o Mr.
Price is kind of an *expletive deleted* aside from really ignoring his family
for his pursuit of missionary work he refuses to accept any of the local
perspectives/ even politics as denoted in his argument over the CIA’s unabashed
influence in the territory. Kingsolver delivers the theme of blind pride like
Austen with Mr. Price.
o I
like how each sister (like real people instead of flat characters) possess
their own perspectives on their father a well. Ruth May is blinded by her child
like naïveté. Leah in some way is also blinded but more so by her culture and
less directly her father’s religious views. And Adah who is somewhat nihilistic
to her father and “his religion” the concept of a powerful and merciful god
crippling her the source, no doubt, of her contempt for many of her
civilization’s Christianized beliefs.
o Pride,
the sin of pride as Ruth may is punished for (with the owl eating souls being
placed in her house etc.) and Jane Austen made parable centuries ago is key in
Kingsolver’s story as well. Mr. Price, Kingsolver’s emblem of the evangelist
west, is blinded like many of Austen’s characters as he demonstrates time and
time again his refusal/dismissal of the wants and needs of the locals,
physically and religiously. For one example the “owl” incident. He dubs it only
a “superstition” held by the local’s paganistic primitive past thus allowing
Ruth to parade around with the owl only to punish her for “boasting pride”
later. Hmmm Maybe Mr. Price should whip himself with the belt of discipline as
he depicts brazen pride ignoring the customs of locals just as the locals do
Christianity, they most likely perceiving just a much foreign superstition as
Mr. Price perceives their various alien (to him) customs. On a side note Leah
is dismantling her previously pride-induced perspective with her appreciation
of Nelson’s academic gifts (he learning English so quickly) as well as her
realization of the whites wealth in the city as compared to that of locals when
she travels to view the elections. Se I beginning to see although there are
indeed “limits” to the natives amenities they are happy nonetheless.
o Pride
is also played again by Mr. Price when he refuses to flee the Congo as
Orleanna pleads. They weren’t even “sanctioned” as we find out, I can only
speculate then that in all actuality the Prices are there not on commission
officially by the “Mission league” but Mr.
Price’s own mission of blind godly efforts. HE so pride fully, solely wishing
to cleanse/convert the Kilingas. I feel something bad will happen(as
foreshadowed by the parrot “Methuselah’s” death “the parrot all but feathers
left, a predator having so easily eaten prey.” And Tata’s “chicken bone before
door” protection of the Price’s)
·
Notable
writing tools, techniques and rhetoric:
o “I
can’t help but every night dream of their last breaths…” What a great mother!
Orleanna basically foreshadows her previous statement that she is mother of
children living and dead” even if she’s simply complaining about the lack of
three course meals a day (she wising her children dead so she could eat
comfortably) when such a feast is rarely if ever accomplished by the average
villager.
o “It’s
a heavenly paradise in the Congo,
and sometimes I want to live here forever.” Leah begins dismantling her pride
as she begins to appreciate/understand the Kilanga culture.
o “I
wonder that religion can live or die on the strength of a faint, stirring
breeze. The scent trail shifts, causing the predator to miss the pounce. One
god draws in the breath of life and rises; another god expires.” Adah’s quote
illustrates her growing lack of faith in her father’s beliefs/western culture
here. Also the prose of Kingsolver is pervading with mastery of visual imagery,
quenching my thirst after Pride and Prejudice.
o “…the
parrot all but feathers left, a predator having so easily eaten prey.” Yep
something bad is coming with this ominous foreshadowing from Adah’s passage.
The Poisonwood Bible: Book Three: The
Judges Notes
·
Notable
elements of literature/ chapter response, “analysis”:
o Hearing
Orleanna’s guilt-ridden tone (again foreshadowing some event that is too occur
as prophesized thus far) describe her past entwined with Mr. Price’s I cant
help but somewhat sympathize now with his character. Although now his blind
faith/pride is overt I can sympathize with his guilt over what happened in WWII,
he needing to justify his survival in the eyes of god needing to “save as many
souls that died that very day.” Still as Orleanna keeps prophesying, obviously
his mission is going to end horribly.
o Leah’s
pride persists in its dissipation as she is given oranges and supplies by
sympathetic villagers. She is “shocked by the magnamity of non-Christians.”
Thus her view continues improving.
o It
seems that Orleanna as well as Leah are beginning to evolve in terms of
character. Each of them are no longer shackled by Mr. Price’s prideful visions
and are now not only doubting the missionary beliefs but completely abandoning
them (they trying to get out of the country against his will), not out of
failure but realization that local customs are fit for local populations. ITS
THERE LIVES AND THERE BELIEFS. Not Mr. Prices anymore. Hell I say go for
Brother Fowles beliefs at this point, I like his perspective on the bible/
understanding of said above principle for the locals beliefs.
o What
a bunch of twists. Spontaneously proposed with marriage Rachel (who wouldn’t,
unlike her father, outright refuse marriage for that would upset local beliefs)
as well as the revelation of the plans to assassinate the new Congolese
president! Kingsolver is undoubtedly unmasking the ugly human nature of the
west (and of course all nations, all humans at least…) trying to gain political
control (as history documents) in the Congo.
o How
ironic (again!) as Mr. Price gives sermons of plagues (“befell by man for his
many sins”) Kilanga experiences one of there own. Each character is deconstructed
to their most basic of beliefs thru Kingsolver’s clever execution of their
actions. Rachel is the only sister (aside from the innocent Ruth May maybe) who
really doesn’t evolve during this crisis and rather devolves to her truthful
disposition as her mirror shatters in the shuffle of her selfish flight, she
literally seeing a shattered reflection of herself (and thusly the fractured
aspects of her basic character, she being self-obsessed). Anatole acts as the
engine for both Adah and Leah’s evolution as he saves both of the girls.
Orleanna’s choice of Ruth May over Adah is significant as it marks Adah’s utter
contempt/faith now for her parent’s beliefs/ religious life in general. Leah
literally loses all faith after Anatole saves and debates with her. She
realizing the ugly human face of the west (the US
concocting to kill the new president for political gain, really the resources
of Congolese land) as well as her once pure religion (which is synonymous of
course with the US
in whole during the morally Manichean 60s). She continuing on her trend of
pride/ even prejudice demolishment.
·
Notable
writing tools, techniques and rhetoric:
o “We
are going to make the Congo,
for all of Africa, the heart of light!” The
new Congolese president sounds similar to Mr. Price in terms of rallying
missionary zeal. Kingsolver uses the diction of “light” to further correlate
the similarities of the two.
o “When
I finally got up with sharp grains imbedded in my knees, I found, to my
surprise, that I no longer believed in God.” Adah here confirms her disbelief
for a god who punishes a human being with such handicaps.
o “Tata,
Jesus is bangala.” Adah points
out Kingsolver’s intention that Mr. Price is blinded by faith by relentlessly
thrusting religion onto the people of Kilanga. As Mr. Price says the above
words, Adah clarifies it could either mean “Jesus is precious.” Or “Jesus is a
poisonwood tree.” If said too fast. This is of course how Mr. Price vocalizes
it. The poisonwood tree symbol recurring, also referring to (with the word “Jesus”
as the specific representational diction of Christianity/western influence in
general) Mr. Price’s vain missionary efforts, his swift refusal of all things
Kilanga, with the poisonwood just like his non-indigenous garden having no
beneficial impact/effect for the people.
o “The
wonder to me now is that I thought myself worth saving. But I did....And if
they chanced to look down and see my struggling underneath them, they saw that
even the crooked girl believed her own life was precious. That is what it means to be a beast in the kingdom.” I’m actually
uncertain of the meaning behind “That is what it means to be a beast in the
kingdom” so I’ll be sure to ask questions on this (if I remember that is….: )
The Poisonwood Bible: Book Four: Bel
and the Serpent Notes
·
Notable
elements of literature/ chapter response, “analysis”:
o This
“beginning section” (at first I found myself liking Kingsolver’s chapter
structure with books, but then I
realized how ill conducive it is to note taking) is incredibly interesting for
its depiction of not the Price’s pride really, but expanding upon the Kilanga’s
very own variant. Granted different due to the harsh environmental extremes
forcing the village to adapt appropriately, the Kilangan’s permutation of pride
is indeed as potent as the Prices. For example before/during the fire hunt the
village all but unanimously rejects the prospect of Leah participating in the
hunt as it would go against their tribes beliefs, their customs,…religion. Later
on Leah successfully ranks a kill but the tribe refuses to believe this and
gives the kill honor to another male hunter (even though Nelson confirmed the
in questioned killing-blow arrow was of Leah’s ammunition). Sounds like blind
belief in not oldways, but their own religion, their own pride. I like how
Kingsolver gave this juxtaposition, now the Prices/West aren’t completely
villains. I was feeling guilty for being a “pampered” American for awhile.
o Anatole
is also expanded upon as a parallel to seemingly all the characters (including
his own tribesman’s) myopic perspectives. Whether it be schooling Leah with a
philosophical debate, or even hilariously defeating Mr. Price as he asks for a
vote to see if “Jesus” (Christianity as Kingsolver blatantly uses the diction)
should be accepted in the village (to which there is a resounding NO) I’m
beginning to favor (and understand why Leah does) Anatole as the saving grace
of this cast. He’s open minded, not blinded by faiths (whether his Kilangan or
Christ) and respectfully hears out/ analyzes both sides. He has toppled this
pride (I say this because Pride is an inseparable element of man, a biological
constant that allows us to continue to exist, jungle or concrete one
otherwise…I sound really pedantic)
o Tata’s words about keeping balance with nature
reflects quite differently from our modern day view, where it seems all we do,
all we must do is spread and consume. Think about it. All animals have evolved
to the extent of living in harmony with their habitat’s ecosystems/resources/fellow
organisms. That is all except man. Is man therefore an animal? The human
animal?
o Leah’s
(as well as the other involved sister’s) depict further their nearly vanished
pride as they help out Nelson who is frightened by continual omens outside his
home. I can’t help but scoff at Mr. Price’s ridiculous lack of an open mind for
someone so “enlightened”
o …..And
thus I understand the metaphor behind the Book chapter title as well as Ruth
May’s continual Black Mamba references….I expected thru all this foreshadowing
it to involve her in someway (Kingsolver couldn’t help but go for a bit of
sensationalism by victimizing a child) but this was some cruel execution on
Kingsolver’s part. Her death isn’t what surprised me but her father’s reaction
(which I echo Leah in a sense, she now “denouncing” him as I have; he being
just like any other man can, the capacity to be an “ugly man”) coldly caring
only for Ruth Mays’ lack of baptism and
later baptizing Kilangan children in the drought ending rain. His hubris and blinded pride is
irredeemable to me now, even as I understood the source of his zeal I can’t
help but utterly despise him. (even Mrs. Bennet was laughably sympathetic in
her follies) All I can say is……*expletive deleted*
·
Notable
writing tools, techniques and rhetoric:
o “The
death of something living is the price of our own survival, and we pay it again
and again. We have no choice. It is the one solemn promise every life on earth
is born and bound to keep.” Kingsolver details another seeming revelation
experienced by Adah in this quote. She realizing that in order for something to
live, something must die, this is relevant to her burgeoning thought process (really
reflection) on her own life after the “ant plague thing…” she learning the
value of her own life is tantamount to any other, no matter relationship with
god, people, or even species (i.e. the “skinned” insects) this is my
interpretation at least.
o “Don’t
expect God’s protection in places beyond God’s dominion. It will only make you
feel punished....when things go badly, you will blame yourself....Don’t try to
make life a mathematics problem with yourself in the center and everything
coming out equal. When you are good, bad things can still happen. And if you
are bad, you can still be lucky.” Anatole is indeed a symbol in and of himself.
Kingsolver really characterizes the Kilangan (?) as a wise young man (assuming
he’s near the sisters age but I’m guessing) here he displays his personal
beliefs about the realism of the world, the actuality of reality wherein the
good guy doesn’t always when and the bad guy gets away often. He’s not blinded
like Mr. Price in any philosophical tunnel-vision.
The Poisonwood Bible: Book Five:
Exodus Notes
·
Notable
elements of literature/ chapter response, “analysis”:
o Thank
*insert any non-denominational diety/figure here* the Price women leave en
masse exodus (ha…see what I did there?....I’m getting tired again…) from Mr.
Price. Mr. Price persists (as Fowles states still in Kilanga) throughout the
novel as a symbol of blinded perspectives of pride, toiling away to
cleanse/purify a people (who never asked) who already possess their own equally
prideful perspicacity.
o Leah
(I’m glad) eventually marries with Anatole and serves as another figure
alongside that of Elizabeth Bennet/Darcy that have conquered there domineering
forces of prejudices/pride, her evolution by far the most dynamic/decisive.
Growing up from a little girl following/fearing her father to denouncing him
and his blinded version of faith. She even
names one of her kids “Nataniel” after Nathaniel her father in the name of
forgiveness!
o Rachel
on the other side of the Price women spectrum continued in her devolution to
her mot fundamental of human facets. She remained selfish/self-absorbed as she
“married” Axelroot (she still selfish as she wants to marry his best friend who
can pull strings for her to achieve power/position in apartheid society and
then divorces said man for another power acquisition; echoes Pride and Prejudice) Kingsolver like
Austen utilized an entire character to portray reality of many individuals lack
of empathy/awareness of others *cough cough* Mrs. Bennet or even Lydia. She
actually becomes worse with her acceptance/embrace of racism.
o Without
the blinds of her father’s religion (her faith being science) Adah literally
conquers her own disabilities throughout this book, finally realizing her
handicaps to be a crux she relied upon for her own enabled cynicism. Good for
you Adah. I enjoyed Kingsolver’s resolution of the character (Adah essentially
made herself handicapped as she continued to believe her life was
damned/worthless)
o Kingsolver
makes use of the symbolism of gardens/poisonwood with Orleanna becoming a
renowned gardener. She adopting the native techniques once (and literally)
stomped on by her husband previously. It seems gardening heals her wounds
inflicted by Ruth May’s death.
·
Notable
writing tools, techniques and rhetoric:
o “If
you are the eyes in the trees, watching us as we walk away from Kilanga, how
will you make your judgement? Lord knows after thirty years I still crave your
forgiveness, but who are you? A small burial mound in the middle of Nathan’s
garden, where vines and flowers have long since unrolled to feed insects and
children. Is that what you are? Are you still my own flesh and blood, my last
born, or are you now the flesh of Africa?” Orleanna’s
guilt-ridden tone is now completely known to me as she questions the seeming
surviving existence of her daughter even beyond death.
o “My
baby, my blood, my honest truth: entreat me not to leave thee, for whither thou goest,
I will go. Where I lodge, we lodge together, Where I die, you’ll be buried at
last.” Orleanna will not allow her guilt to leave, if she does she feels shed
be letting go of Ruth May in someway. In my opinion, the only way to honor her
memory would be to let you and her move on. Also with “goest” and “thee”
Kingsolver reduces the vernacular to fit the book’s frequently biblical
tone/diction. Also (again) this is an example of the figurative device of
Apostrophe (so is the quote above) as Orleanna basically cries to Ruth May even
whilst in death.
The Poisonwood Bible: Book six and
seven Notes
·
Notable
elements of literature/ chapter response, “analysis”:
o “Walk
forward into the light,” Ruth May’s (as well as the books) last hurrah
illuminates Kingsolver’s ultimate goals (or at least what I believe it to be)
for The Poisonwood Bible. A family
with wildly differing perspectives, prejudices, as well as their own prides
(varying in types/intensity) who eventually struggle thru their various
binds/blinds emplaced by their previous schemata’s (prejudice) some not even
conquering said moral dilemmas. Leah following/fearing her father as well as
god later achieves happiness byway of Anatole’s equally stunning philosophical
journey (though he did remain constant, an anchor). Orleanna simply a follower
as well as mother actually ends up narrating the book as a matter of healing
(as well as garden tending) thus she is slowly vanquishing her own demons of
guilt over Ruth May’s death. Rachel…yeah she devolved even more so ultimately
feeling disconnected with the world (Kingsolver’s symbol of many in American
culture who financially flourih yet posess a void unfillable by material?).
Ruth May…she died but was the engine to this story’s fellow cast. And finally Adah,
a cynic that mirrors many of today (too extent all of us) who begins believing
her life to be valueless and damned by a non-existent deity. She too plays too
Kingsolver’s overarching themes as she eliminates her handicapping and
rationally realizes that all lives are equally precious while all the same
worthless in value. In other words, in the end, Kingsolver connotes the theme
of not just pride and prejudice in blind perspective, but the theme of “universal
relativity” of universal subjectivity. No matter how you wish to
prioritize/perceive the world, whether it be money/material (Rachel), zealous
ideals of religion (Mr. Price), or a cynical/rationally rooted fact based
reality (Adah) all of us withhold a “religion”. All of us have a subjective
perspective, a mental monocle to which we ultimately blind ourselves yet are
also our only way to see. The world, society, life all is defined by your own
perspective to which you validate your value/existence within. All of us have a
“religion”. All of us have, like the prices, have our own set of rules, have
our own tenets and ultimately fallible/malleable dogmas that the foundation of
our own world (as there is a world for every individual mind) is constructed
upon. All of us have our own “bible”. Question is, will you look, find, and
see, will you walk forward…into the light
?
·
Notable
writing tools, techniques and rhetoric:
o “Betrayal
bent me in one direction while guilt bent her the other way. We constructed our
lives around a misunderstanding, and if ever I tried to pull it out and fix it
now I would fall down flat. Misunderstanding is my cornerstone. It’s everyone’s
come to think of it. Illusions mistaken for truth are the pavement under our
feet. They are what we call civilization.” Adah supports my claim of “universal
subjectivity” as she describes her epiphany, realization of said truth.
Kingsolver connotes the idea that the Prices were blinded by their prideful
perspicacity, and if ever that pride was in jeopardy, the ground would crumble
beneath their feet. Their respective warped worlds would become endangered and
collapse. Just like many in civilization today, Adah was once blinded by a
self-imposed cataract that blurred her view of the world, twisting reality into
a set of subconsciously, carefully, constructed illusions. I’m glad she found
then closed her “bible” finding the “light”.
o “What
happened to us in the Congo
was simply the bad luck of two opposite worlds crashing into each other, causing
tragedy. After something like that, you can only go your own way according to
what’s in your heart. And in my family, all our hearts seem to have whole
different things inside.” Leah describes Kingsolver’s agenda to depict numerous
differing perspectives, numerous differing prides, differing religions, and
“bibles”. I believe Leah found the threshold of light, and walked forward.
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