The reason that there are so many cultures around the world is because every single place on earth is different. From the Sahara Desert in North Africa to the Amazon Rainforest in Brazil, people have developed their own cultures in order to survive. In The Poisonwood Bible, the Price family moves to the Congo as missionaries. By including Ruth May’s childish outlook, Kingsolver gives the reader a straightforward point of view of Nathan Price’s single-minded mission to convert the Congo to Christianity. Ruth May describes the new world around her, and notices that many, if not all, of the Congolese have some sort of injury. She tells us that her mother would often scold the whole family for staring, but that she soon started staring herself.
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She explains that she broke her arm trying to hide from them, and had to consequentially go to the hospital. While Ruth May breaks her arm, Axelroot arrives at the village. Although Axelroot leaves that day and comes back the next, Nathan does not see it as a lucky coincidence, but considers it “good timing by the grace [of] God.” (Kingsolver, 118). Nathan has wholeheartedly put his faith into Christianity, and believes that everything happens for a reason that the Lord wants. Nathan takes Axelroot’s arrival at the same time as Ruth May’s accident as the Lord helping and rewarding him for being his follower. This event might have caused Nathan to harden his resolve to convert the Congolese to Christianity. After all, Nathan’s work is starting to pay off. If the Lord could still help and reward him while he was in the Congo, why not the rest of the Congolese? All Nathan had to do for the Lord to start helping the Congolese was to convert them to Christianity and make them believe that the Lord is their …show more content…
The Congolese are tired of being pushed around by the Americans and Belgians. Anything that they promise to the Congolese is false. Patrice Lumumba is promising his fellow Congolese independence and freedom. The freedom to do whatever they want without anybody else profiting off of their hard work. Freedom to follow their own customs and cultures without the interference of others. Freedom in general. While it is obvious that Nathan does not like the Doctor because of his skepticism in God, Nathan tries to be civil and responds that “Africa has a million souls” (Kingsolver, 122). By replying with this, Nathan is basically telling the Doctor that while it may seem that Patrice Lumumba is the new salvation for the Congo at that moment, it will not last long and the Congolese people will eventually turn towards Christianity, the only true form of salvation. Nathan firmly believes that the Lord is the only form of salvation and will not accept anything else. If it seems that Lumumba will be the new savior of the Congo, then the Lord must have a reason for it. When Ruth May hears this, she takes her Father’s word for it, saying that “Father ought to know, for he’s out to save them all.” (Kingsolver, 122). Ruth May understands that her family is in the Congo for a reason, and she knows that her
She explains that she broke her arm trying to hide from them, and had to consequentially go to the hospital. While Ruth May breaks her arm, Axelroot arrives at the village. Although Axelroot leaves that day and comes back the next, Nathan does not see it as a lucky coincidence, but considers it “good timing by the grace [of] God.” (Kingsolver, 118). Nathan has wholeheartedly put his faith into Christianity, and believes that everything happens for a reason that the Lord wants. Nathan takes Axelroot’s arrival at the same time as Ruth May’s accident as the Lord helping and rewarding him for being his follower. This event might have caused Nathan to harden his resolve to convert the Congolese to Christianity. After all, Nathan’s work is starting to pay off. If the Lord could still help and reward him while he was in the Congo, why not the rest of the Congolese? All Nathan had to do for the Lord to start helping the Congolese was to convert them to Christianity and make them believe that the Lord is their …show more content…
The Congolese are tired of being pushed around by the Americans and Belgians. Anything that they promise to the Congolese is false. Patrice Lumumba is promising his fellow Congolese independence and freedom. The freedom to do whatever they want without anybody else profiting off of their hard work. Freedom to follow their own customs and cultures without the interference of others. Freedom in general. While it is obvious that Nathan does not like the Doctor because of his skepticism in God, Nathan tries to be civil and responds that “Africa has a million souls” (Kingsolver, 122). By replying with this, Nathan is basically telling the Doctor that while it may seem that Patrice Lumumba is the new salvation for the Congo at that moment, it will not last long and the Congolese people will eventually turn towards Christianity, the only true form of salvation. Nathan firmly believes that the Lord is the only form of salvation and will not accept anything else. If it seems that Lumumba will be the new savior of the Congo, then the Lord must have a reason for it. When Ruth May hears this, she takes her Father’s word for it, saying that “Father ought to know, for he’s out to save them all.” (Kingsolver, 122). Ruth May understands that her family is in the Congo for a reason, and she knows that her