The Price's had pretty much no idea of what to expect when they went to Congo. They knew it was going to be very different from their life in the United States, but they didn't know how different. The were not in any way prepared to face the cultures of the native people. The two things that seemed to stand out (at least in the mind of Rachel) was the loudness and the nakedness of the African people. Even though this is 1960, the native people seem to still live very similarly to people did say one hundred years earlier. The sacrificing of the goat is just like the Umuofians in TFA. The technology is very primitive, there is no electricity from what we have seen so far, so the only form of cooking is with fire. They live by light of the sun. "Everything that comes of morning undoes itself before nightfall: rooster walks back into forest, fires die down, birds coo-ooo-ooo, sun sinks away, sky bleeds, passes out, goes dark, nothing exists." Adah pg. 30 The natives also do not know Christianity very well. They were not very sure what to make of Reverend Price's speech when he came. They were simply a little bit stunned and confused.
Africa in the inception of the story is foreign and savage. In miles, it is the same distance from Georgia today as it was in 1960, but in other aspects it is twice as far, none of the characters attempt to understand it at first glance, they fall somewhere on a spectrum of wanting to save it and wanting nothing to do with it. In the opening paragraph of the book, Orleanna describes the African jungle; the animals, the trees, "the vines that strangle their own kin in an everlasting wrestle for sunlight" (supposed to foreshadow?). Orleanna seems to be describing Africa with sentiments of love and hate, with definite guilt for the burden the white people have done onto it. She wonders if she can live with what she has done with it, which brings about the question – what will she do to Africa in the pages to come? She is burdened by the very clothes she wears on her back, purchased in the United States, on the system she lives based on the colonization, enslavement, and destruction of the entire African continent. So does that we (our race, this country) are all burdened by the horrible things done to Africa? Each character has their own opinion on Africa, each first-glace judgment calls (besides Orleanna, in her first journal entry, but she's already been through it). Rachel of course can not live with out her hairspray and shopping malls – beyond that, with out the culture and civilization she has been raised in and accustomed to (then again, could I?). The last sentence of her entry reads "I wept for the sins of all who had brought my family to this dread dark shore." She blames the Africans, she has been taught to blame them. I think she will learn by the end the guilt her mother feels, or at least an appreciation for the African people. Adah seems fascinated by this new place, she just sits and notices, notices everything, and there is so much for her to notice and play with in her mind in her new home. Because of this, maybe she'll have the clearest view of Africa, as her opinions seem the least biased. Leah is determined to help her father save the lost African souls and bring God to the least godly place on earth. I wonder if her mind will change ever on Africa, if her father's can't? For them Africa is a mystery, temporary, but I know it will change them more than they could change it.
You are both off to a good start. In the future, bear in mind that Kingsolver has not tried to provide much in the way of narrative distance--we see all of Africa (well almost...) through American eyes. Try to focus on the ideas & characters that are most clearly part of Africa. Descriptions of place will also be useful.
Okay well as late as I am at least I'm doing this...
#2
In the second section of the book, “The Revelation”, we learn a lot about the changes that are taking place in Africa. Patrice Lumumba comes into play. We find out about him, ironically, from a white man, the doctor. Patrice Lumumba is a man who believes in independence for the Congo. Reverend Price says, “Tata Lumumba, who from what I hear is a barefoot post office worker who's never even been to college.” (p.122) This line does a pretty good job summing up what stage Africa is at right now. The white people are still in control, and they still have the same views of Africa. They view it through European standards, that someone cannot be smart if they don't have a western education. As the doctor points out, Belgium and America have not brought civilization to the Congo. There are no roads in the Congo, few automobiles, few hospitals, schools, the list can go on and on. Europeans have definitely not brought civilization. Africa also seems to be adjusting a little bit to the white people, or at least Kilanga has. Only a little bit, but the children have begun to play with Ruth May and Leah made a friend as well, Pascal. While it may not be as many people as he would like, there are people attending church also.
7 comments:
Hey it's Tessa, I'm doing this one.
yup jr is doing this one to i guess
and by to i mean too
The Price's had pretty much no idea of what to expect when they went to Congo. They knew it was going to be very different from their life in the United States, but they didn't know how different. The were not in any way prepared to face the cultures of the native people. The two things that seemed to stand out (at least in the mind of Rachel) was the loudness and the nakedness of the African people. Even though this is 1960, the native people seem to still live very similarly to people did say one hundred years earlier. The sacrificing of the goat is just like the Umuofians in TFA. The technology is very primitive, there is no electricity from what we have seen so far, so the only form of cooking is with fire. They live by light of the sun. "Everything that comes of morning undoes itself before nightfall: rooster walks back into forest, fires die down, birds coo-ooo-ooo, sun sinks away, sky bleeds, passes out, goes dark, nothing exists." Adah pg. 30 The natives also do not know Christianity very well. They were not very sure what to make of Reverend Price's speech when he came. They were simply a little bit stunned and confused.
Africa # 1
Africa in the inception of the story is foreign and savage. In miles,
it is the same distance from Georgia today as it was in 1960, but in
other aspects it is twice as far, none of the characters attempt to
understand it at first glance, they fall somewhere on a spectrum of
wanting to save it and wanting nothing to do with it. In the opening
paragraph of the book, Orleanna describes the African jungle; the
animals, the trees, "the vines that strangle their own kin in an
everlasting wrestle for sunlight" (supposed to foreshadow?). Orleanna
seems to be describing Africa with sentiments of love and hate, with
definite guilt for the burden the white people have done onto it. She
wonders if she can live with what she has done with it, which brings
about the question – what will she do to Africa in the pages to come?
She is burdened by the very clothes she wears on her back, purchased
in the United States, on the system she lives based on the
colonization, enslavement, and destruction of the entire African
continent. So does that we (our race, this country) are all burdened
by the horrible things done to Africa?
Each character has their own opinion on Africa, each first-glace
judgment calls (besides Orleanna, in her first journal entry, but
she's already been through it). Rachel of course can not live with out
her hairspray and shopping malls – beyond that, with out the culture
and civilization she has been raised in and accustomed to (then again,
could I?). The last sentence of her entry reads "I wept for the sins
of all who had brought my family to this dread dark shore." She blames
the Africans, she has been taught to blame them. I think she will
learn by the end the guilt her mother feels, or at least an
appreciation for the African people. Adah seems fascinated by this new
place, she just sits and notices, notices everything, and there is so
much for her to notice and play with in her mind in her new home.
Because of this, maybe she'll have the clearest view of Africa, as her
opinions seem the least biased. Leah is determined to help her father
save the lost African souls and bring God to the least godly place on
earth. I wonder if her mind will change ever on Africa, if her
father's can't? For them Africa is a mystery, temporary, but I know it
will change them more than they could change it.
You are both off to a good start. In the future, bear in mind that Kingsolver has not tried to provide much in the way of narrative distance--we see all of Africa (well almost...) through American eyes. Try to focus on the ideas & characters that are most clearly part of Africa. Descriptions of place will also be useful.
Okay well as late as I am at least I'm doing this...
#2
In the second section of the book, “The Revelation”, we learn a lot about the changes that are taking place in Africa. Patrice Lumumba comes into play. We find out about him, ironically, from a white man, the doctor. Patrice Lumumba is a man who believes in independence for the Congo. Reverend Price says, “Tata Lumumba, who from what I hear is a barefoot post office worker who's never even been to college.” (p.122) This line does a pretty good job summing up what stage Africa is at right now. The white people are still in control, and they still have the same views of Africa. They view it through European standards, that someone cannot be smart if they don't have a western education. As the doctor points out, Belgium and America have not brought civilization to the Congo. There are no roads in the Congo, few automobiles, few hospitals, schools, the list can go on and on. Europeans have definitely not brought civilization.
Africa also seems to be adjusting a little bit to the white people, or at least Kilanga has. Only a little bit, but the children have begun to play with Ruth May and Leah made a friend as well, Pascal. While it may not be as many people as he would like, there are people attending church also.
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