1. Told from the perspective of the Reverend Nathan Price’s three daughters and his wife, their experience as missionaries in Kilanga, the Belgian Congo is recounted. The tribulations they must face throughout, along with the repercussions that will last for the rest of their lives is seen. Fanatically religious, Nathan Price rules as the head of the Price family not with a soft heart but with an iron fist. The world of Africa is so different compared to their hometown in Georgia that it becomes increasingly hard to adjust and merely survive every day in the either scolding heat or rain drenched muddiness. In the midst of extreme famine and disease-infested country, Reverend Price makes it his duty to baptize as many of the natives as possible, even if it costs his family their lives. He becomes increasingly obsessed with the idea and slowly loses his sanity in the process. After the tragic death of the youngest daughter, Ruth May, Orleanna finally rounds up her family and leaves. Although Rachel and Leah choose to remain in Africa, and aim to get married to their “fiancee’s”. Only Adah and Orleanna return to Georgia. What follows is the telling of the rest of their lives into adulthood and the differing paths they each have all taken as a result of the Congo having altered their lives forever. In an attempt at redemption for the death of Ruth May, all the women suffer from guilt and look for every opportunity to repent for their guilt.
2. Nathan Price- An extremely devote Baptist preacher that has taken it upon himself to baptize all the people of Kilanga. A fanatic, and somewhat crazy, he essentially sacrifices his family and puts the word of the bible over his sanity. After he was traumatized in world war 2 as a soldier, he...
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...in the way of her closely sheltered religious upbringing. Leah is constantly unforgiving of herself, blaming the little ups and downs on her religious faith and the work of her almighty God. In the vastly uneducated Congo, it is natural for the people to view every instance as an act of God. Yet, as Anatole reveals God has nothing to do with the Congo, as he believes the Congo lays outside of God’s jurisdiction and urges Leah to see it in a different light than her father’s, the only view she has ever known. Through this explanation Leah is able to determine and eventually choose which reasoning she is agrees with. The simplicity of “life happens” is demonstrated in Anatole’s words and as she grows older Leah regards them as a new religion, one in which she can identify with and passes as transition into leaving behind the teachings of the reverend.
The story begins with the protagonist, Tia, and her best friend, Marcelle, hanging out after Sunday School as usual, watching and gossiping about the other girls. However, this Sunday was different as Tia is struggling with the message from her class. The readings from that morning showed how conservative Tia’s life was at this point. In addition to these traditional readings, many of the girls in Tia’s class were beginning to speak in tongues; however, Tia is unable to master this skill. “You could only truly speak in tongues when all the worldly matters were emptied from your mind, or else there was no room for God.” Tia is constantly trying to achieve this connection, but is
Her realization that she is not alone in her oppression brings her a sense of freedom. It validates her emerging thoughts of wanting to rise up and shine a light on injustice. Her worries about not wanting to grow up because of the harsh life that awaits her is a common thought among others besides the people in her community. As she makes friends with other Indians in other communities she realizes the common bonds they share, even down to the most basic such as what they eat, which comforts her and allows her to empathize with them.
The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver is a work of historical fiction. The novel is based the Congo in 1959, while it was still under Belgian control. Nathan Price is a southern Baptist preacher from Bethlehem, Georgia who uproots his family, consisting of wife and three daughters, and takes them on a mission trip to Kilanga. Orleanna Price, Nathan’s wife, narrates the beginning of each book within the novel. Rachel, Leah, Adah, and Ruth May rotate the narration throughout each book. Rachel is the oldest Price child, and high materialistic. She refuses to accept the ways of the Congo, believing that she is better than everyone simply because of where she had her start in life. Leah is the next oldest, and she is a self-proclaimed tomboy. She likes to climb trees and practically worships at the feet of her father. Adah is the handicapped one, with a physical deformity. However, this deformity does not limit her, instead making her the smartest of the Price girls. Ruth May is the baby of the family, and has not yet lost the childhood innocence that she views the world with. Barbara Kingsolver uses a very interesting narrative style in the novel, switching between four narrators between the ages of five and fifteen, who are all female. Kingsolver's use of multiple narrative perspectives serve to amplify life in the Congo during the early 1960s through characterization, religion, and politics.
...ke the other Puritans, Hope is able to follow her conscience and trust in her heart. When Nelema is imprisoned for her unorthodox method of healing of Cradock on Hope's behalf, Hope extricates Nelema from the authorities. After Magawisca is taken captive due to a promised rendezvous between Faith and Hope, Hope finds a way to rescue Magawisca from prison. Although Hope loves her sister and wishes to keep her home, she respects the sanctity of Faith's Christian bond with Oneco, albeit Catholic, and is happy for Faith when Oneco rescues her. Hope transcends the Puritan religion and embraces a universal religion, respecting others' differing relationships with God as holy. Hope, unlike her society, rejects strict adherence to religious tenets and follows her own heart.
“The Other Side of Paradise: A Memoir” is a vivid recollection of Staceyann Chin's traumatic childhood as she discovers her voice and identity growing up in Jamaica beginning in 1972. At the age of four, Staceyann is already experiencing the oppressions related with being a girl. Delano, her older brother by two years, is the only male in the house as both of their fathers are out of the picture. Since they are both raised by their deaf and illiterate grandmother, Delano exercises his masculinity over Staceyann in numerous ways, even at the age of six. Wether it be the games and communication at home or learning in school; Delano is always prioritized over Staceyann. Although they both long for the return of their mother whom abandoned them after Staceyann was born, it is she who is affected in the long run. Bounced around to different families, Staceyann has issues with keeping her mouth shut, thus landing her in tons of trouble all the time. Every adult figure she has to deal with relies on The Bible for punishment reinforcement. “Stacey, the Good Book tell us, In every thing give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you (pg 7, The Other Side of Paradise).” When every answer is in relation to The Bible, Staceyann is always left lost and confused. If God is responsible for everything, why is she left motherless in poverty? Her journey continues as she excels through grade school and into high school. Along the way she encounters a few relationships with boys, but is never fully able to trust them due to her being sexually assaulted numerous times as a child. As Staceyann meets her mother and visits with her father, she is forced at a young age to fend for herself. In a stru...
George and Ophelia grow up in significantly different environments with exposure to vastly dissimilar experiences; their diverse backgrounds have a profound impact on the way they interpret and react to situations as adults. George and Ophelia both grow up without their parents, but for different reasons. George grows up at the Wallace P. Andrews Shelter for Boys in New York. The Shelter’s strict surroundings did not provide the warm and inviting atmosphere that a mother strives for in a home. The employees at the Shelter are not “loving people,” (p. 23) but they are devoted to their job, and the boys. At a young age, Ophelia loses her mother. We learn very little about her apparently absent father. Mama Day and Abigail raise Ophelia. Abigail provides a source of comfort and love for Ophelia as she fulfills the role of mother figure. Mama day, Ophelia’s great aunt, acts more as a father figure. “If Grandma had been there, she would have held me when I broke down and cry. Mama Day only said that for a long time there would be something to bring on tears aplenty.” (p. 304). Ophelia grows up on the small island of Willow Springs. Everyone knows each other and their business, in the laid-back island community. The border between Georgia and South Carolina splits down the middle of the island. Instead of seeing any advantage to belonging to either state, the townspeople would prefer to operate independently. For George and Ophelia, the differences in their backgrounds will have a tremendous impact on many facets of their adult lives.
Valerie Martin’s Novel Property is an engrossing story of the wife of a slave owner and a slave, whom a mistress of the slave owner, during the late 18th century in New Orleans. Martin guides you through both, Manon Guadet and her servant Sarah’s lives, as Ms. Gaudet unhappily lives married on a plantation and Sarah unhappily lives on the plantation. Ms. Gaudet’s misserableness is derived from the misfortune of being married to a man that she despises and does not love. Sarah, the slave, is solely unhappy due to the fact that she is a slave, and has unwillingly conceived to children by Ms. Gaudiest husband, which rightfully makes Sarah a mistress. Throughout the book, Martin captivates the reader and enables you to place yourself in the characters shoes and it is almost as you can relate to how the characters are feeling.
...ns. The audience is surprised to find out that God forgives and lets her go to Heaven with her family. The readers are passing judgment along with the Misfit and believe that because she cannot justify her sins; she should go to Hell. By using this plot twist the author shows how society has sinned similar to the Grandmother, yet how they can still be saved.
Watching God is a narrative about Janie’s quest to free herself from repression and explore
Sarah had her heart broken but this is when she realized she had to stop trying to fill the mold which her parents expected of her, this is where most of her struggles begins. Sarah always religious person, but after her father passed away she stayed up north to mourn on her own at this time she met this Quaker family. The Quaker family, Israel and his wife Rebecca, open their arms for Sarah and hooked her interest toward the Quaker religion, because abolitionist beliefs and the fact that women were allowed to be minsters. The Quaker beliefs amazed Sarah because she saw an opportunity to express opinions which has been on her heart for the majority of her life. After Israel’s wife died, Sarah decide to go up north to Philadelphia to live with Israel and his children to learn about Quaker religion and become a part of the church. But this cause issues with Sarah’s family, religion and society. Society was appalled that Sarah, an unmarried women, was going to live with a very recent widower, who was a part of culture which spoke out about the way of life of her southern society. Her mother disapproved of her going up north because she was not married, so it was Sarah’s obligation to live at home with her mother and help. Sarah’s mother felt abandon and betrayed by her sweet Sarah. Sarah’s pass ministers disapproved
Celie is not the only character to undergo a change in her religious outlook and complete the journey “from the religious to the spiritual”. Nettie also is brought up as a devout believer in the Christian church however throughout her time in Africa and with the help of the Olinka people she discovers a new more “internal” form of religion similar to Celie’s new found spirituality. The journey from the religious back to the spiritual is reflected in the distance between the white missionaries in Britain and America and the African tribes. The missionaries represent the formal ‘white’ church and the Olinka fulfilling the idea of pantheist spirituality. This is a journey Nettie makes physically and spiritually. Shug and Mr.’s views on religion also change during the novel, and as Walker intends, all make this ‘journey’ with “courage and the help of others”.
Lena's husband, the family's father died and his life insurance brings the family $ 10,000. Everyone, especially the children, are waiting for the payment of life insurance in the cash. Now the question is whether the money should be invested in a medical school for the daughter, in a deal for the son or other dreams. But after the death of her husband Lena Younger gets the insurance money and buys a new house, where the whole family is going to move. It would seem that a dream came true. But soon we learn that the area, where the family purchased the house, is full of white people who do not want to see African-Americans in the neighborhood. The Youngers are trying to survive the threats or bribes, but they manage to maintain a sense of dignit...
The Smales were a suburban, upper middle class, white family living in Southern Africa until political turmoil and war forced them to flee from their home and lives. Rebel black armies in Soweto and other areas of Southern Africa revolted against the government and the minority white race, attacking radio and television stations and burning the homes of whites. The Smales needed to get out quickly. Their servant July, whom they had always treated well and had a very uncommon relationship with, offered to guide the family to his village. The Smales, having no other options, accepted July’s offer and ran in haste and confusion to the dearth village. They knew little of the drastic adjustments they would have to make in order to survive in July’s rustic village. These adjustments would soon threaten their relationships with one another and their family’s structure.
Kambili is characterized by her lack of voice. She stutters and coughs and can barely rise above a whisper. Both she and Jaja are sheltered and intimidated by her father. Both children, as they mature into adults, must overcome their father. While Jaja’s rebellions are more overt – missing communion, asking for his room key, taking the blame for his mother’s crime – Kambili’s are more personal. She does not reject her faith and compassion, but rather adapts them to fit her new, more complex, worldview. Through all of their hardships, Jaja remains Kambili’s hero.
The first point of discussion is the story line of The Poor Christ of Bomba. The story revolves around the reverend “Father” Drumont however, the story is told through a series of journal entries as seen through the eyes of Denis, who is Drumont’s fourteen-year-old houseboy. Denis records the happenings that occur on Drumonts tour of a missionary work as he and the cook Zacharia travel through the villages surrounding the forest of the Tala region. In the beginning of the book the Father lives Bomba, which primarily survives on the income that the Sixa, which is a home for the engaged young women brings in. These women stay several months at the Sixa and provide free labor on the plantations, in the elementary school and workshops. Contrasting to the women in the Sixa who follow the teachings, there are the Tala villagers in the forest. The Tala villagers accepting Christianity as minimally as possible, because they realize that the European faith has provided access to what the Talas believe the true power of colonialism: money. This becomes apparent as the “converted” Talas leave their villages for communities like Bomba, that are scattered along the new ...