omniscient point of view

“Mother, you can still hold on but forgive, forgive and give for long as long as we both shall live I forgive you, mother. I shall turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers. The teeth at your bones are your own, the hunger is yours, forgiveness is yours” (Page 543)

“Think of the vine that curls from the small square plot that was once my heart. That is the only marker you need. Move on. Walk forward into the light.” (Page 543)

Orleanna couldn’t forgive herself for the death of Ruth May, if she have had her own opinions and haven’t came to Congo, this wouldn’t have happen. She doesn’t really think of the bright side and traps herself inside this kind of guilt. This just made the best ending ever, hoping that her mother could move forward, could still keep Ruth in mind, but move forward. It’s interesting how the author had another speaker for a dead character, because usually when a character die, their roll in the story ends, and only their spirits or will may continue on, but in this case, Ruth’s voice was heard, it is sort of giving the reader a omniscient point of view.

The Protagonist

When finding the definition for Dynamic character, it says “often the protagonist undergoes significant change”. Then it occurred to me, who is the protagonist? The author wrote the points of views for the four daughters and the mother but not Nathan Price, who is kind of like the centre of everything. Is it because of his madness towards seeking forgiveness from God and his personality filled with flaws that lead the author not giving him a voice? Like, his actions have already given away his thoughts and clearly the readers wouldn’t really want to hear about his opinions after reading and understanding his values.

This is kind of a both opinion and questioning post, hope to hear from you guy’s comments belowwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww!

Dynamic Character

Dynamic character is a character in the novel that undergoes significant, lasting change usually in his or her outlook on life. After reading this book, I think the character that changed the most in personality and thoughts wise is Rachel Price. She’s always been the beauty queen in the family, doesn’t really share the same religious thoughts as her father, and mostly cares for her physical condition. The feeling that she gives to me as a reader, is that she puts herself way high up, superior than anyone else, stubborn and hard to accept other facts into her mind. She wanted to leave Congo as soon as she took first glimpse of the environment and people. She seems extremely racist and constantly compares everything she sees to her home town, America. Usually these kinds of characters often need to go though some kind of long term suffer or a sudden tragedy. In the close end of the story, Ruth May got bit by a snake and died, and she gone through three marriages, and ended up with a hotel.

“Did I ever think I would wind up here getting old? Not on your life. But here I am. I’ve walked off more marriages and close calls than you can shake a stick at, but never got out of the Dark Continent” (page 511)

“At least I can say that I’m a person who can look around and see what she’s accomplished in this world” (page 511)

“Then why not go back. Well, now it’s too late, of course. I have responsibilities. ” (page 512)

Her thoughts and actions in the end really showed the dramatic change in her character. Nothing in life is definite; you’ll never know that you will end up at certain places at a certain age. And she now knows her responsibilities in life, nothing else seem important anymore.

The twins

Leah and Adah Price are night and day considering their personalities at the beginning of the book.
Leah is very idealistic, optimistic, and likes to jump into things. Where as Adah is a major pessimist and likes to step back and analyze a situation. Also, Leah almost worshipped her father and took whatever he said to heart, Adah questioned some of their fathers beliefs and had a better understanding of self-identity. Leah is a tomboy and always full of energy, and Adah suffers with her handicap and instead places herself as an observer.

Adah:
Later on in the story she overcomes her handicap, and chooses to speak more often. The turning point for her was when she found that really wanted to live when her life was in danger that one night in the Congo. She decides to start living her life more thoroughly instead of being a by-stander, and finds something that she wants to believe in, science. She dedicates the rest of her life to her work with viruses. Although, we can clearly see that she hasn't changed completely, because she has a tendency to go back to her old ways and sometimes longs for the way she used to view the world.

Cliché scenario

One man, one woman, and four daughters dedicated to one of the most harsh and intense environment in the world to spread the belief of Christianity. The thing that makes the story more intriguing than it seems is the fact that these six people have totally distinct personalities and comments on their mission to Congo. It is like those movies where a group a people are stranded on an island, and with different personalities they have to learn to co-exist in a different environment and learn throughout the struggle. It is kind of cliché of the characteristics of each of the five girls, the mother accepts every event from her husband; Rachel the beauty queen, questioning why she couldn’t have a normal teen life; Ruth, a five year old that loves adventure; Leah, fourteen year old who is as religious as her father; Leah’s twin Adah, cripple and mute, but extremely intelligent, really observant; and lastly the Father, Nathan Price, who is like the leader of this group, aggressive and stubborn. Overall, I just find this fiction novel really cliché in how the writer sets up each character.

Congo's History

Okay, i LOVE history and learning about people and places. This book has really taught me a lot about Congo's past which is soo interesting. From this book I learned the country was occupied by Belgians (called Belgian Congo from 1908-1960) when the state fell to international pressure and they took over as a Belgian colony.
THEN, you guys all know Lumumba. 1960 was when he was elected Prime Minister, and Kasavubu became President.  June 30 1960 was the day the nation became independent. But a little while later they started clashing after the country was kind of split into two, " provinces of Katanga (led by Moise Tshombe) and South Kasai engaged in secessionist struggles against the new leadership" (thank you wikipedia!).

Okay, Mobutu comes into the picture when he was put in charge of the army by the president, and ended up with a lot of support from within it that he led a coup. THIS was supported by the US and western countries that opposed communism (remember this is a critical time in history with all the communist movements), so he was backed up and had help.

A year later Lumumba was executed. A provisional gov. took over.
(p.s the US and Belgium killed the PM cause they wanted diamonds and crap)

Fulfilled Foreshadowing

Here's just a little something to think about.

"[Nelson] opened up the peg and I blew in the little hole and quick he said my name Nommo Bandu Nommo Bandu Nommo Bandu! and shut up the hole with the little peg and Now you are safe. He said now if anything happens to me, if I start fixing to die or somethig, hold on to this tight and bambula! Ruth May will disappear.
How do you know? But Nelson knows everything about the dead people.....
I dont want to disappear, I said.
But he said, Only if you are going to die. He said this way I won't die, i will just disappear for a second and then I'll turn up someplace safe...
You have to think of your safe place every day." (pp.239)



"Its a very odd thing to recall, that we all looked up. Not one of us looked at Ruth May. I cant say that Ruth May was even there with us, in that instant. Just for the moment it was as if she disappeared and her voice was thrown into the trees. Then she returned to us, but all that was left was an aweful silence...
I could only stare at Ruth May's bare left shoulder, where two red puncture wounds stood out like red beads on her flesh." (pp.363-64)