Return To Patrice Lumumba Character Analysis

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Leah’s psychological traits are also challenged by her geographical features after moving to the Congo. Back in 1959 the congo was going through trying to gain independence and fight for their rights. Besides it being a scary place in general for a fourteen year old, the Congo is also “a continent full of mysteries, dangers, crashing governments and tragedies.” (Williams Banker 4) She goes from living a wholesome life in Georgia to being surrounded by the jungle with creatures she's never seen before and people who already judge and do not like her because of her father's selfish ways. Also living in the Congo is very difficult from dealing with illnesses to just the work to have to do to have normal drinking water. The Congo has many of deadly creatures that live there, so you have to watch your every move when going into the forest to search for wood, food, and many other things because you never know what will be around the corner. Everyday life's a struggle when you live in the Congo. You have to go get water from the river and boil it to make sure you get …show more content…

But the most important figure is Leah who is very similar to Patrice Lumumba. Leah wants to help find independence for the Congolese people and find justice for all. Lumumba was the prime minister of the Congo and fought strongly for what he believed in which was independence for the Congo. What sparked Leah's interest in this, is when her father took her to see the acceptance speech of the first democratically elected president of Congo, Patrice Lumumba. She got inspired by him and it made her want to make a change for the Congolese people. Leah represents the Congo in the novel and this shows when her sister dies in her arms and she couldn't do anything about it. Just like when the U.S let Africa and the Congo suffer and did nothing to help them. This is why she wanted to make a

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