Book 5 Poisonwood Bible

Book 5: Exodus Analysis Orleanna was unable to make a departure from the Congo because of Ruthmay’s death. She had a love for Ruthmay like no other because she was the youngster daughter. When Orleanna says “My baby, my blood, my honest truth: entreat me not to leave thee, for wither thou guest I will go. Where I lodge, we lodge together. Where I die, you’ll be buried at last (382)” she is explaining that she lost a part of herself when Ruthmay died. Orleanna tried to get over the grief she felt about Ruthmay, but she was unable to. Since Orleanna could not departure from Ruthmay, she was unable to departure from the Congo because Ruthmay is a part of the Congo now; Ruthmay is the eyes in the trees. Oreleanna speaks to Ruthmay, “If you are the eyes in the trees, watching us as we walk away from Kilanga, how will you make your judgment? Lord knows after thrifty years I still crave your forgiveness (385).” This quote proves that Orleanna needs Ruthmay’s forgiveness to move on from the Congo, even though Ruthmay has already given her forgiveness. She can never leave the Congo behind, because her youngest daughter is buried there in a garden. When Leah Price moved to the Congo, she experience a culture shock, but not long after she fell in love with the new culture and wanted to learn everything she could about the Congo. Leah is a part of the Congo, and therefore cannot departure from it. Life is getting difficult in the Congo for Leah. Leah ends up having a husband who loves her very much and 4 children, but Anatole keeps getting imprisoned and Leah and her family would like to be able to find a place where they could call home. I believe that Leah is emotionally attached to the Congo because her youngest sister and Father both died in the Congo. Leah was the only daughter who felt sorry for her father dying. Leah states, “My Father came only once, with blue flames curling from his eyebrows and tongue (295).” I believe Nathan visiting Leah makes her more attached to the Congo because she felt bad for the death or her Father, and if she stays, she may be able to see his again. In my personal opinion, I believe Ruthmay wanted Leah to stay in the Congo because when they were trying to flee the Congo, she randomly got sick and had to stay in the Congo. The only reason why Leah and Anatole got married is because Leah fell deeper in love with Anatole when he nursed her back to care. Leah says, “I’ve thought about it long and hard and decided that if he will tolerate me as I am, I’ll decline to return to all familiar comforts in order to stay here (401), and this quote is explaining that Anatole is the reason why she is emotionally attached to the Congo, because love changes everything, and she wants to stay with him. Rachel is not emotionally attached to the Congo, because she has never been attached from the beginning. Rachel has never enjoyed the Congo, and has not found anything in this new Country that catches her interest. Rachel is a lot like her Father in the sense that all she cares about is herself. The only reason Rachel has not moved back to the USA is because she does not think she will fit in with the society, so she decides to stay in the Congo because that is what she is used to. Rachel is married to Axelroot, but she is not emotionally attached to him because she does not truly love him. “I have had to put up with Eeben Axelroot for the last year… His gawking at other women when I am still so young and attractive myself, and with my nerves shot already, I have been through so much (402).” This quote explains a lot about Rachel in the sense that she is not there for Axelroot’s love, but only his attention. Rachel says, “I’m sure I said good-bye to my Mother and Adah and Leah, though I really don’t remember giving a second thought to when I would ever see them again, if ever (406).” This quote proves Rachel cares too much about herself to ever be able to be emotionally attached to anything, even her own Family. Adah is not emotionally attached to the Congo. After the night of the ant attack Adah realized that she values her life, and she is going to make a change to how she is living her life. Adah was quiet and did her own thing in the Congo, therefore there was nothing that she really became attached with. After Orleanna chose to save Ruthmay over Adah, I feel like she lost all connection with the Congo because Adah feels like she was not loved, and just wants to go back to the USA and live a normal life. “I still believed Mother would take Leah, not me. Leah, who, even in her malarial stupor, rushed forward, to crouch with the battery in the canoe and counter its odd tilt (414).” This quote proves that Adah will never be Orleanna’s first choice, and there is nothing left in the Congo for Adah. If Adah wants to live a normal life she must go back to the states and go to school. Adah fell in love with the religion of science, and has become a new person in the USA, and now speaks and walks normally. She becomes a brilliant researcher. Yet Adah cannot completely overcome the backward-reading girl she once was, but she is glad she is not that girl anymore. Once Adah moved back to the USA, she felt at home living with her Mother, and Adah forgave her Mother for not choosing Adah over Ruthmay, “But as we watched that pirogue drift away across the Kwenge, Mother gripped my hand so tightly I understood I had been chosen.