Poisonwood Bible Blog 4

A Family Tragedy 
    In an unexpected course of events Ruth May Price, the youngest of four daughters to Nathan and Orleanna Price of Georgia, died in a tragic snake encounter during their mission trip in the Congo.
   Sister to the deceased, Leah Price, recalled, "I only remember hearing a gulp and a sob and a scream all at onc, the strangest cry, like a baby taking its first breath. We couldn't tell where it came from, but strangely enough, we all looked up at the treetops." The four girls were in their back yard when it happened while their parents were asleep indoors. Nelson, a Congolese friend of the family, attempted to administer first aid. Family and neighbors are still grieving her untimely death.

The Poisonwood Bible- Blog 5

   The very last two sentences of The Poisonwood Bible very clearly and concisely reveal one of the themes of the entire novel: "Move on. Walk forward into the light." Kingsolver utilizes this as a message to the reader. Although everyone's lives will ultimately be struck with difficulties, and even tragedies like the Price family, one must continue to strive forward through difficulties for greatness, and even eternal light and happiness. The "light" cannot be achieved without forgiveness, and that is exactly what Kingsolver wants the reader to take away from this book. Just as Ruth May forgives her family in the last chapter of the book, so do we readers need to try and forgive those people who have done wrong in our lives.

Poisonwood Bible Blog 3

    The ant attack that happens at the Price's village reveals a lot about each and every character within the Price family. Orleanna especially faces a major trial: she must choose between two of her daughters (Ruth May, and Adah) which to save.
    Adah says, "Only my mother stood still. There she was, planted before me in the path, rising on thin legs out of the rootless devouring earth. In her arms, crosswise like a load of kindling, Ruth May. She studied me for a moment, weighing my life, then nodded, shifted the load in her arms, turned away." In the end, Orleanna was forced to make a choice of which daughter she valued more and which one was more valuable to save. As the reader, it seems almost unforgivable to leave one of your children behind, but at the same time Orleanna couldn't physically carry both girls. But is it fair to leave the crippled child behind to fend for herself? Is it fair to favor the youngest? Why didn't she try to save both girls? Did Orleanna make the right decision? And what would we readers do in that situation? The answers to these questions will vary from person to person depending on their morals and their opinions, but one thing is for sure: the depths of Orleanna Price's personality were revealed through this dramatic event.