"I felt the breath of God go cold on my skin"
Leah has been questioning her faith for quite some time now, but now that she is with Anatole, her love for him replaced her father's vision of God, as her faith, so really... love conquers all! (as lame as that sounds).
Leah also realizes that life isn't just about doing going deeds and then being rewarded for them. This does not necessarily mean that she's turned her back on God, only that she's moved away from the close-minded faith her father has been pushing on his family, for her entire life. She instead has the chance to set her own morals and beliefs. This is a huge turning point in the book, for all of the girls, showing their independence from their father.
Totally agree with “life isn't just about doing going deeds and then being rewarded for them.”. Life is for you to create, have your own beliefs and ideology, that's the whole point of growing and reach maturity.
ReplyDeleteYeah she is definitely in love. I think, from what im understanding, she's staying with nuns while he's in jail at one point. She waits for his letters with such an eager heart to make sure he's okay. They eventually get married, too, after reuniting ("My sweetheart, released after three years without formal charges, was waiting here to raise the dead"). It seems despite all the problems going on in the Congo with the Independence movement and the different leaders shuffling around, they have clung to each other all the more. Tres cute.
ReplyDeleteBut back to your topic of her changed faith, priorites for EVERY character have evolved. Leah specifically, theres one part where she is looking at a locket with a picture of her sisters. She says she almost forgets what they look like. Clearly her heart is with Africa now.
But to help quote and back up what was said about her faith, here, take a look at this.
"I've lost all the words to my childhood prayers, so my head rings with its own Grand Silence. And Anatole has found new words for shaping belief." (pp.431)