The Poisonwood Bible - blog 4 - 3/20/14

Ruth May Price Tragically Dies in Snake Attack

      All of the four Price girls were outside, while parents Nathan and Orleanna Price remained inside of the house. The sisters don’t remember much except hearing screams and sobs. Ruth May’s sister, Leah, told sources, “I only remember hearing a gulp and a sob and a scream all at once, the strangest cry, like a baby taking its first breath.”

      A few encounters led up to the snake attack. A mamba snake had been placed outside of their house by someone, as if it were a trap. The Price girls along with a friend, Nelson, placed ashes outside of their house leading up to the shack where the snake was to see if they could catch the suspect. As Ruth May went to check upon the ashes for footprints, she was bit. Leah found her sister Ruth May after she headed towards the screams. Leah tried to help her sister, but realized it was too late. Leah noticed a bite on her shoulder and described it as “two red puncture woods stood out like red beads on her flesh.”

      Another sister, Adah, also recalled, “Her bluish face creased with a pressure closing in, the near proximity of the other-than-life that crowds down around clamped shut. Her spine curved, and her limbs drew in more and more comprehension, she moved away to where none of us wanted to follow.” The Price family is still in shock from their youngest child’s death. 

The Poisonwood Bible blog 3 - 3/1814

What becomes painfully clear in Rachel’s personality during the ant attack?

The ant attack is an event that specifically emphasizes each character and how they react in certain situations. In Rachel’s case, we as readers begin to realize how self-oriented Rachel truly is. Rachel has always been similar to her father with her arrogant personality and belief that she is superior over others.

Rachel appears to be focused on possessions and does not value family like other family members care for her. As the ant attack arrived, Rachel was “trying to think what to save.” Rachel told, “Not my clothes, there wasn’t time, and not the Bible- it didn’t seem worth saving at that moment, so help me God. It had to be my mirror.” This incident proves that Rachel is materialistic and self-centered. She does not care about the rest of her family running but rather stays behind to gather some possession. The fact that she did not grab her Bible either proves that she is not as superior and faithful as her father, Nathan, makes the family out to be.

Another portion of the ant attack that struck me about Rachel’s personality was the line, “Then I spotted Mama Kwanza being carried on her husband’s back toward the boats. They went right past me! She did deserve help, poor thing, but I personally have a delicate constitution.” Rachel had the opportunity to help Mama Kwanza but instead chose not to because of her own health. Instead of making a sacrifice and trying to help, Rachel only thought of herself in the situation. The different occurrences throughout the ant attack bring forth Rachel’s true character.

blog 2 - the poisonwood bible - 3/8/14

                Ruth May’s view over the Congo differs from the rest of her family. While she recalls many facts from her experiences on their trip, she doesn’t exactly know what to expect from the Congo or how she should react. Her view of the Congo is somewhat accurate since she is such a young child and pays attention the details.

                First, Ruth May broke her arm as she was watching the African Communist Boy Scouts marching. She was watching them from a treetop and fell down, which resulted in her father taking her to the doctor. She saw Doctor Eeben Axelroot, and learned a secret about him. As they rode in the plane to get her arm fixed, Ruth May noticed some whiskey, diamonds, and rubber in a bag by her seat. She notices the details of it, but does not make the connection that Eeben Axelroot has been stealing the goods from the Congo. Eeben Axelroot also tells her that the roads in the Congo are only used to haul diamonds and rubber, and she still doesn’t realize that he steals the diamonds and rubber.

                Her view is almost indifferent or in favor of the Congo. She makes multiple discoveries about them through her experiences but doesn’t make a connection to their injustice and culture. 

Poisonwood Bible - blog 1 (3/1/14)

                Throughout the first reading of The Poisonwood Bible, the occurrence of the poisonwood tree incident with Nathan Price along with the title of the book struck my attention and seems to foreshadow ideas and themes for the book.

First, the title of the book itself creates some foreshadowing. The Poisonwood Bible mentions two different parts—a poisonwood tree and a bible. Both seem to be symbols and can foreshadow to another portion of the story. As Reverend Price encounters a poisonwood tree, he continues to touch it. The story occurs on page 39, where Mama Tataba is out in the garden. She tells the reverend, Nathan, “That one brother, he bite……Poisonwood.” Nathan eventually proceeds to tell Mama Tataba, “I’ve been tending the soil ever since I could walk behind my father.” As Nathan continues to tend the soil and touch the tree, he “woke up the next morning with a horrible rash on his hands and arms, presumably wounded by the plant that bites.” The story reminded me of Adam and Eve, where they are told not to eat fruit from the tree, but the woman starts eating it anyway. She then feels sick to her stomach, similar to Nathan’s rash after touching the tree. Both characters in both stories appear to be arrogant. Reverend Price is arrogant and believes that he is just and right. I think the tree will continue to appear throughout the story and Reverend Price will eventually be punished for constantly touching the tree when he knows he shouldn’t be just because he believes his ways and opinions are the only option.

                Also, the “bible” portion of the title creates more foreshadowing. Reverend Price and his family do all sorts of missions because of their strong faith and belief in the bible verse from Genesis chapter 1, “And God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.” Reverend Price believes he and his family can have dominating power, and the title is foreshadowing what will eventually happen with their dominating power. Following every word of the bible and interpreting it the wrong way leads to poison, or a “poisonwood bible.”