The Kite Runner---Week 6

Since the time that I found out Amir was going to find Sohrab, I had a feeling that he would bring Sohrab back to America with him. Although I now know the outcome of the story, I want to discuss some of the foreshadowing that Hosseini uses throughout the last few chapters to let the reader know that Sohrab will indeed be going to the United States.

One night while in the hotel room, Sohrab is lying on the bed sleeping, and Amir sitting on the edge of the bed. “I wondered what I’d do with the wounded little boy lying on the bed, though a part of me already knew.” Although Amir has only had Sohrab in his possession for a short amount of time, his conscious is already telling him what is right. When this part in the book happened, I thought that “he might already” know what to do because he was trying to make amends for what he did that day in 1975. Even if Amir is going to take Sohrab for different reasons, every reason will lead back to Hassan and the brotherly love they have. As always, family comes first.

Late in the chapter when Sorab goes missing and Amir begins looking for him at the front desk, the man states, “I will drive you [to the masque] because I am a father like you.” These words not only foreshadow Amir bringing Sohrab to America, but also display irony. It is ironic that the man at the front desk speaks these words to Amir, because he and Soraya were not able to bear their own children. At the time of their inability to conceive, Amir blamed his selfish acts in 1975 on their infertility, as if it was a curse. Now that the man has said this, Amir is reminded how badly he wanted his own children, which makes him fight even harder to get Sohrab back to America. These two instances prove that at some point, Amir and Sohrab will return to Amierca together, and eventually, they do.

I also want to highlight the fact that Sohrab is quite literally Hassan back in his young age. Sohrab admits to Amir that, “the bad man and the other two…they did things…did things to me.” Just like Hassan, Assef and his followers sexually abused Sohrab. Sohrab is here to save Amir from his guilt, just like Hassan saved Amir from multiple instances. Through Sohrab, Amir finally finds some relief from his guilt. Just like Amir said at the end of the novel, “When spring comes, it melts the snow one flake at a time, and maybe I just witnessed the first flake melting.”

The Kite Runner---Week 5

Throughout the book I have been curious if Assef would make a return in the story, and if so, what role would he be in. During this week’s reading, Assef was back in the story line, and this time he was a member of the Taliban, the one wearing the “John Lennon glasses.” It comes as no surprise to me that he would be in the Taliban because his violent ways in the beginning of the novel foreshadowed him joining the Taliban.

When Amir goes into Assef’s office, Assef is unwilling to give Sohrab to him because Amir and Assef had “unfinished business.” Seeing Assef “kiss the side of [Sohrab’s] neck” reminded Amir of what happened that day in the alley. Amir’s guilt comes flooding back into his mind. Looking into the deeply hurt eyes of Sohrab, Amir can only see Hassan. The reflection of Hassan through Sohrab’s eyes foreshadows that Amir will attempt to make up all the wrong he did to Hassan through Sohrab.

Assef orders the guards out of the room because he and Amir need to take care of old issues and “whoever comes out alive” gets to keep Sohrab. Assef reaches into his pocket and grabs out his brass knuckles that he had had since his childhood. As Assef is beating Amir, Amir begins to laugh because he finally feels his guilt slipping away. After all the times that Amir tried unsuccessfully to get Hassan to get revenge for what happened, Amir finally feels that he is getting what he deserves. Through this scene I wondered if this beating would be enough to completely free Amir of his guilt, or if it would only temporarily work. Sohrab, who learned his father’s slingshot skills, shot Assef in the eye with a brass ball. After this happened, Sohrab took Amir and they got away from the Taliban as fast as possible in order to avoid further complications.

When in the hospital recovering from the fight, Amir asks Fraid to find Betty and Thomas Caldwell because they were going to take care of and house Sohrab. Fraid reports back to Amir that there is no record of any Betty of Thomas Caldwell ever having lived, at least not in Peshawar. Upon hearing this news Amir is flabbergasted and has no idea what he is going to do with Sohrab. After I learned that these people didn’t exist, it was evident to me that Rahim Khan made them up so that Amir would go get Sohrab. If Amir thought that he would have to take care of Sohrab for the rest of his life, I don’t think he would have gone to get him, but since there were people willing to take care of him, Amir believed this was a small sacrifice to make. Now that he discovered this people are nonexistent, what will Amir do? Will Sohrab be brought back to the United States with Amir, or will he again betray Hassan’s family by leaving him to fend for himself, like he did for Hassan that day in the alley?

The Kite Runner---Week 4

Throughout the novel thus far, there seems to be a motif that everyone has a past. The decisions that one makes during childhood or adolescence can stay with a person for the rest of their life. During this week’s reading, Hosseini tells us that it is okay to have a past, because everyone has one.

Soon after Amir’s arrival in Afghanistan, Rahim Khan informs Amir that he and Hassan are half brothers. Although I was shocked to read this, I began to understand that through the entire story, Hosseini has been foreshadowing this. From the constant affection that Baba displayed toward Hassan, it is obvious that Hassan has a special place in Baba’s heart more than just a servant. Also when Amir says that he “had seen that face somewhere before” it means that Hassan looks similar to Amir, hence they share similar genes. Amir is shocked to find out that Baba could hide this from him, but at the same time, he cannot be upset with Baba because he too has his own secrets. It is here that Amir discovers that it is okay to have past secrets, you just need to make the most out of your situation.

Rahim Kahn also informs Amir that Hassan is now dead, but he has a son that is in an orphanage in Kabul and he wants Amir to go and save him. Will Amir use Hassan’s son Soharb in order to make up what happened that one winter? Will Amir finally feel guilt free if he is able to save Soharb and raise him as his own?

The Kite Runner---Week 3

Last week I was left wondering if Hassan or Ali would ever reenter the plot of this novel to resolve the issues between Amir and Hassan. At the end of this week’s reading, that question was answered when we found out that ever since Baba and Amir went to America, Hassan had been staying with Rahim Kahn.

In the beginning of this week’s reading, Amir’s life was illustrated through his attempts to woo Soraya. After multiple attempts to pique her interest in him, Amir is finally successful. Amongst his attempts to woo Soraya, Amir discovers that his father is in need of medical care, after he witnesses him cough up blood. Amir had to persuade Baba to seek medical care, and the prognosis was terminal brain cancer. Amir and Soraya were to get married, but since Baba’s timetable was incredibly limited, the couple bypassed the engagement part and went straight into the wedding. Baba was able to witness his “only son” get married. Soon after the wedding, Baba passed away. Amir struggles with his father’s death, but along the way, he learns valuable lessons. Amir is taught that nothing lasts forever, so he must never take anything for granted. Amir and Soraya attempt to have children, but are unsuccessful, even after multiple tests and IVF. Because they were not able to conceive, Amir begins to blame himself because of what happened that day in the alley. The flashbacks to that day in the alley multiple years later displays how heavily this one part of his life weighs on his mind. As Baba said last week, “what happens in a few days, sometimes even a single day, can change the course of a whole life.” The decision that Amir made that winter day has forever changed his life.

15 years into their marriage, Amir discovers that Rahim Kahn, Baba’s old business partner, is on his death bed, and wants to see Amir. Because Rahim Kahn had always been extremely faithful to Amir, he knew he needed to go to Afghanistan and visit him before he would never have that chance again. During his visit, Rahim Kahn tells Amir that Hassan had been staying with him ever since they went to America. Since Amir has learned that life is extremely short with the death of his father in this week’s reading, will he tell the truth about what happened that winter day to Hassan? Will Amir begin to value the friendship they used to have and make an attempt to resurrect it?

The Kite Runner---Week 2

Throughout the novel so far, loyalty is a reoccurring theme. Amir struggles internally when he has to decide whether to be loyal to Hassan or not. Unable to decide if social status is more important than friendship, Amir remembers some of the similarities that he and Hassan have. Instead of assisting Hassan when he is in the alleyway, Amir turns his back and runs. Although, Amir feels immense amounts of guilt for not assisting Hassan, he refuses to tell anyone about it. The guilt builds up so much within Amir that he attempts to get back at Hassan by putting money and a “watch” under Hassan’s mattress. Thinking that Hassan with tell Baba and Ali the truth, Amir believes that this action will help relive him of the overwhelming guilt on his mind. Hassan became the scapegoat for Amir’s action because he is willing to sacrifice anything for Amir in order to save their friendship. Hassan and Ali become so overwhelmed by all of the issues that they decide to quit their jobs as servants and move on to a new town. Will Amir ever be able to expiate the disloyalty that he showed Hassan?

In the early 1980’s Amir and Baba move to the United States in order for Amir to get a better education. This new beginning for Amir and Baba impacts Baba less severely than Amir, because while Amir is furthering his education, Baba is simply working in a gas station. After Amir graduates at the age of 20, Baba takes Amir out to a bar to celebrate. Upon their return home, Baba admits that he wishes “Hassan and Ali could be” there to help celebrate. It is evident that the separation between the families has caused Baba much heartbreak, but will Amir ever feel the same way? Also, because Baba mentioned Ali and Hassan it makes me question whether they will come back into the story later on.

Thus far, loyalty has been a motif within the story. I am left wondering if by the end of the novel Amir will learn what is truly important in his life: social status or relationship.

The Kite Runner---Week 1

The Kite Runner begins with the narrator introducing the reader to him. Soon we find out that the narrator’s name is Amir. In the first chapter, Amir reflects briefly on events that happened in his life, and realizes that each event made him who he is today. After the first chapter, the novel turns into a flashback. Amir begins to thoroughly examine his life and analyze how certain events turned him into the person he is.

In order to understand this novel, one must understand the conflicts of the people living in Afghanistan. The Pashtuns, mostly Sunni Islam’s, are considered high class, while the Hazaras are considered low class. In the novel, Amir and his Baba (father) are Pashtuns. Amir’s Baba is a wealthy business man that has two Hazara servants, Ali and his son Hassan. Baba and Ali are brothers because Amir’s “grandfather adopted him [Ali]” and raised him as his own son. Baba and Ali grew up being lifelong companions because they were only a year apart in age, and now both of their sons are growing up together and are also just a year apart in age and motherless. Hassan considers Amir his friend because they do nearly everything together, but Amir cannot decide if Hassan is his friend or servant. Although Amir and Hassan spend immense amounts of time together, Amir still has an internal conflict with whether Hassan is a friend or not, because in the rest of society’s eyes, Hassan is a mere servant because of his Hazara label. The relationship between Amir and Hassan is a microcosm of all of Afghanistan, because of the Pashtuns power and authority over the Hazaras. Will Amir be able to accept Hassan as a friend even though he is a Hazara, or will society’s pressure steer him away from what could be the most valuable relationship in his life?

The Poisonwood Bible---Week 6

As The Poisonwood Bible came to an end, it was evident that each daughter has now found their place in the world. Although Ruth May is not alive, she is the narrator of the last chapter. Now, the “eyes in the trees,” Ruth May watches over her sisters and mother, keeping them all united.

During this reading, Adah exemplifies that handicapped people don’t necessarily always want to be “normal.” She stated that “we would rather be just like us, and have that be all right.” Adah’s statement clearly displays that she would have appreciated if people would have accepted her for the way she was, handicapped and all. This statement is indirectly the way that the African people were thinking when the Price family came into Africa to try to change them. Every person, no matter who they are, has a desire to be accepted for who they are, not for what others want them to be. People have told Adah that by changing herself, she had nothing to lose but her “chains.” Adah doesn’t agree with this because “if chained is where you have been, your arms will always bear marks of the shackles,” meaning that every part of your past will make you into the person you presently are. By trying to rid yourself of your problems or past you can “lose your story, your own slant,” or what makes you, you. Although Adah is no longer crippled on the outside, she hasn’t changed on the inside. “Tall and straight I may appear, but I will always be Ada inside. A crooked little person trying to tell the truth. The power is in the balance: we are our injuries, as much as we are our successes.”

Leah and Anatole are living happily with, now, four children. Making a complete transformation from the beginning of the book, Leah now realizes that what her father tried to do in the Congo was unrealistic and completely wrong. Although she has changed her views on life, she does admit “I suppose I loved my father too much to escape being molded to at least some part of his vision,” showing that parts of her father and his beliefs still reside inside of Leah. Nathan, Leah’s father, had a belief that the white person way of living was the best in all areas of the world. As Leah frequently tells herself, “everything you’re sure is right can be wrong in another place, especially here.” By frequently repeating this to herself, it is obvious that without the constant reminder that her way isn’t always best, she would turn into a person similar to her father. Leah wishes that she could go back in time and tell her father that what he was doing was wrong because “he was one of a million men who never did catch on” to what was so wrong with his actions. Nathan was oblivious to the fact that he was trying to control the African people rather than being accepting of their way of living. Through having four children, Leah has learned eventually “time erases whiteness altogether,” because each one of her kids are so different. Just like different cultures, each of her kids has their own way of interpreting situations and their own way of living.

According to Adah, “if Rachel ever gets back to Bethlehem for a high school reunion she will win the prize for ‘Changed the least.’” Rachel has made a few transformations throughout the course of the book, but overall she is still mainly focused on her successes and materialistic goods. Rachel’s main concern in life is making sure that the Equatorial is successful and that she makes plenty of money to live comfortably. It is obvious that Rachel is still self centered when she states, “others people’s worries do not necessarily have to drag you down.” While this may mean we should not get caught up too much in other people’s problems, I believe that Rachel truly doesn’t care about what other people are going though and is only concerned with herself.

“From the very first moment I set foot in the Congo, I could see we were not in charge. We got swept up with those people that took us to the church for all their half-naked dancing and goat mean with the hair still on, and I said to myself: this little trip is going to be the ruin of the Price family as we know it.” This statement by Rachel reveals that she has known all along how trying to change the Congolese people would affect her family. The whole story I believed that Rachel was naïve to what was going on around her, but overall, I truly think she had the best understanding of how this trip would turn out.

The closure for each women in the book comes when they return to the Congo to see Ruth May’s grave. A woman in town tells them that the road to Kilanga is closed, so “Kilanga is not reachable.” The closed road symbolizes the closure of the guilt that each woman had while in the Congo. Now is their time to move forward with their lives, instead of reliving the past.

The Poisonwood Bible---Week 5

After the tragic death of Ruth May, the other girls and Orleanna continue their lives separated from each other. It is during this separation that Leah transforms into a well rounded human, while Rachel continues her materialistic lifestyle.

After the family is broken up, Rachel states, “What happened to us in the Congo was simply the bad luck of two opposite worlds crashing into each other, causing tragedy. After something like that, you can only go your own way according to what’s in your heart. And in my family, all our hearts seem to have whole different things inside.” Rachel understands that her family splitting up was the best possible solution to the heartbreak they were experiencing from the loss of Ruth May. Rachel goes onto living in Johannesburg, South Africa. After the death of her third husband, she is left with his restaurant, Equatorial. When Rachel first begins describing her restaurant, she mentions that it is “for paying customers only” but she feels bad for the people who can’t afford to buy the food so she “built them a shelter, so they wouldn’t be tempted to come in and hang out” by the main bar. In stating this, I thought that Rachel had made a slight character transformation because she was suddenly concerned with other people’s wellbeing. Just a short time later though, Rachel begins complaining about how no one in her family will come visit her and see how successful she has been with her new business. Rachel says, “Supposedly Father is still over here wandering about in the jungle and honestly what else does he have to do? He could get cleaned up and pay a visit on his eldest daughter.” Here it is evident that Rachel is not concerned with anybody but herself. She is self-absorbed and wants to prove to her family how great of a living she is making. It is also ironic in this chapter when Rachel says, “I work myself to the bone, keeping this business open seven days a week and the weekends,” yet if she wants chicken curry for the dinner she “simply says to the cooks: Chicken curry!” and if she wants more flowers “I snap my fingers and have more planted.” Rachel is extremely unaware how strenuous other’s work is in order to make her restaurant successful, and she takes all of the credit. Although she has split up from her family in order to live life how she wants, not how her father wants, she has not bettered herself as a person by living on her own.

Leah has flourished as a person since Nathan is no longer in her life. She is finally able to marry Anatole, an African boy, and have a family with him. Leah also becomes an English teacher for American children, and she recognizes how ungrateful the children are for the education they are receiving. Leah is upset about how ungrateful the children are to her and she gets frustrated when they make fun of her clothing. Even in witnessing their lack of gratitude, Leah is ignorant to the fact that the way these children are treating her is nearly identical to the way her family treated the Congolese people when they first arrived in Africa.

Anatole and Leah have three children, and the names of their children carry specific symbolism. The names of their children are Patrice, Pascal, and Martin Lothair. Patrice was named after Patrice Lumumba, the leader of the Congo who was killed. Pascal was named after one of Leah’s childhood African friends. Leah naming her children after important African’s portrays how much of an impact coming to Africa had on her life. Martin Lothair, the youngest child, was named after Martin Luther, who was known for reforming Christianity.

After this week’s reading, I am left wondering if Rachel will undergo metamorphosis like her sisters have. Both Adah and Leah have moved on from being selfish humans, but will Rachel ever change her outlook on life?

The Poisonwood Bible---Week 4

As The Poisonwood Bible progresses, each girl in the novel continues to make individual characteristic transformations. Throughout these changes, Kingsolver continues the motif of American’s being conceited.

Kingsolver also uses different scenarios to depict American’s as greedy throughout the novel. At the beginning of this week’s reading, Rachel is out on a walk with her “fiancé” Axelroot. During their conversation Rachel is concerned about whether or not her family will be going home soon, and Axelroot responded, “You still think you’re the epicenter of a continent don’t you, Princess?” Within the microcosm of this novel, Rachel represents the materialistic people in the world. Although the statement by Axelroot is directly stated to Rachel, it is indirectly meant for the United States as a whole. The majority of people living in the United States get caught up in all the material goods that they own and then forget about other people and their needs. When we overlook other people’s needs, it is easy to think that the world revolves around us. Kingsolver brings to light this problem in our society by using Rachel to play the role of the selfish, materialistic citizen. After reading this part I questioned whether Rachel would ever begin to change her lifestyle and understand the negative impact her father is having on the Congolese people. Later on in the reading at a village meeting, Reverend Price tries to take over the meeting implying that his way is the best. During this meeting it is made obvious to Rachel that her father resents the kind of person that his daughter, Leah, has become. Rachel states, “It’s just lucky for Father he never had any sons. He might have been forced to respect them.” Through this statement, we can see a transformation in Rachel as she now sees that the way her father treats her, her family and the Congolese people is not appropriate. Since Rachel has had this transformation in the way she views her father, will she stand up to him, or let him continue to act this way?

Another display of American’s thinking that their ways are better than other peoples is when the Congolese people have an election during the church service about whether or not to accept Jesus Christ. Reverend Price gets upset and says that they should have this election at a different time and place because that is how it is done in America. Tat Ndu says in response to Reverend Price’s outrage, “Then you may do so in America. I will not say you are unwise.” Mr. Price, still upset, yells, “Man, you understand nothing. You are applying the logic of children in a display of childish ignorance.” When Tata Ndu says that he will not call Reverend Price “unwise,” he displays an acceptance of all people and their different beliefs. When Reverend Price rebuttals, he uses repetition of the words “childish” and “children” to describe Tata Ndu’s thinking, which is ironic because Tata Ndu is accepting of other people and their beliefs, but Mr. Price is not. In reality, it is Mr. Price who has a childish manner of handling situations and other people. After this week’s reading, I am concerned that there will be no one able to help Mr. Price in changing his lifestyle. Will one of the Congolese people change him? Or will it be his own daughter’s, or no one at all?

The Poisonwood Bible---Week 3

In book three of The Poisonwood Bible, Judges, Barbara Kingsolver continues to portray America as a rich, selfish country that sees itself as superior over other countries. During the third book, Leah begins teaching math at the school where Anatole teaches. It is during a chapter that is told by Leah that we are let in to the views that the Congolese people have about Americans and all white people in general.

After Anatole and Leah get done teaching the children for the day, Leah studies French while Anatole gets lesson plans ready for the next day. One day after class Leah asks Anatole why some of the students don’t like her. Because he doesn’t want to hurt her feelings, he tries to avoid answering the question. By avoiding the question it is made obvious that there is something wrong with her. Finally Anatole says that there are some reasons why they don’t like her, and they include, “you are a girl, you are white, and they think you represent a greedy nation.” Leah doesn’t understand how American’s are greedy because she thinks that a person needs to be rich in order to live a good life. Anatole explains that not everyone thinks that way and that the Congolese people see money in the sense that “if you don’t get rid of it, it’s just going to rot and stick to high heaven.” After having this talk with Anatole, Leah begins to understand that our country is selfish, but will she be able to bring this mind set back to America, much less to her own family?

During this same conversation, Leah questions Anatole on why he translates her father’s sermons when he doesn’t necessarily agree with what he is doing. Anatole becomes the Christ figure to Leah in this story because he has become her teacher, not only of French, but of how to be a better person. Anatole has the mindset that every person should be able to make their own decisions about what is happening in the world. He says, “people need to know what they are choosing,” so he translates the sermons so the Congolese people can make up their own minds if they want to believe what Nathan Price is preaching to them.

Even though Anatole is young, he has so much to offer to everyone who encounters him. Up until this time, Leah has been following her father because she thinks he is a true imitator of Christ, but now that she has found Anatole, that may change. He has taught her how to be open and accepting of other people and of their beliefs, and isn’t that what the bible tells us to do? Anatole is truly teaching Leah to love other people for who they are, even when they have different beliefs from her. So, will Nathan be the one to teach all of the Congolese people, or will Anatole step in the way and instead teach Nathan?

The Poisonwood Bible---Week 2

“I took a deep breath and told myself that a woman anywhere on earth can understand another woman on a market day. Yet my eye could not decipher those vendors: they wrapped their heads in bright- colored cloths as cheerful as a party, but faced the world with permanent vile frowns…However I might pretend I was their neighbor, they knew better. I was pale and wide-eyed as a fish. A fish in the dust of the marketplace, trying to swim, while all the other women calmly breathed in that atmosphere of overripe fruit, dried meat, sweat, and spices infusing their lives with powers I feared.” In the beginning of the second book, Revelation, Orleanna Price expresses her discomfort with being the minority in the African society. She says that any woman should be able to relate to another woman, but once she steps into the market place, Orleanna realizes how different she is compared to the women “in bright-colored” head wraps with frowns always on their faces. Not only are the appearances of the women different, but also their thinking and personalities. Within this part of the story, it is obvious that Orleanna struggles living in this society because she says she was “a fish in the dust of the marketplace, trying to swim” but “all the other women calmly breathed” in the atmosphere where they were most comfortable.

Also in this chapter, Orleanna’s true feelings of her marriage come out. When her husband is gone, rather than dreaming of his return, she is “dreaming of coffee.” She didn’t miss his physical presence of her husband as much as she missed having coffee when she was in America. Orleanna dreamed of going back to America via the river that could carry her “body down through all the glittering sandbars.” Orleanna also hung pictures of other families and homes in her kitchen because it gave her something to dream of. The kitchen was the chosen location for the pictures because there was no way that Nathan would ever be in the kitchen to help.

At the end of this book, it is evident why the title is Revelation. In the bible, the book of Revelation is about the events leading up to the end of the world. At the end of the reading, Congo celebrates their freedom as they are no longer going to be controlled by Belgium. Also, the family finds Methuselah dead. When Methuselah is found, Adah refers to him as “only feathers, without the ball of Hope inside.” Methuselah is a metaphor for the people of Congo now that they are free. When the Price family released Methuselah, he continued to return to them because he was not able to survive on his own, and eventually died because the family was not feeding him. Now that Congo is no longer being controlled by Belgium, will they survive, die, or turn to the Price family for help?

Week 1, The Poisonwood Bible

The first book of the Poisonwood Bible, Genesis, introduces us to the Price family who is going to be living in Africa for a year trying to spread their religion, Christianity, to the African people.

Because this book is titled “Genesis” I immediately thought that this part of the novel would have multiple references to the book of Genesis in the bible. The book of Genesis in the bible starts at the very beginning when God created the world, and this book also starts at the very beginning of the Price family’s journey to Africa.

When the family first moves to Africa, they have a challenging time adapting to the Congolese culture. One of the first kinds of wildlife that is mentioned in the book is the okapi “by the stream.” Okapi are most closely related to the giraffe, although from a distance they look similar to a zebra. Okapi are unsocial animals that enjoy living in large, secluded areas. The mannerisms of the okapi are similar to the Price family when they first arrive in Africa. Since they are the minority in Africa, the family resides in a home isolated from the rest of the people, similar to the okapi.

Thus far, throughout their stay in Africa, the Price family has had a difficult time accepting the beliefs of the African civilians. Of course, this isn’t surprising because normally, every person thinks that their beliefs are the correct ones and that that makes them superior over others. Leah and Reverend Price attempt to plant a garden outside of their house, so that when the garden becomes plentiful with crops, they will be able to supply the villagers with food at a large picnic. The garden that is planted is symbolic of The Garden of Eden in the bible. The imagery in this chapter helps describe the area around the garden and it is easy to see that the poisonwood tree is a symbol of the Tree of Knowledge in the bible. The Tree of Knowledge is the tree that God forbade Adam and Eve to eat from, yet they disobeyed Him. In this chapter, Leah and Reverend Price represent Adam and Eve and Mama Tataba represents God. Mama Tataba instructs Leah and Mr. Price to plant the seeds in “hills” so that the rain would not wash them away, but thinking they knew better than their master, they planted the seeds how they thought would be best, but then were punished for disobeying when the rain washed the seeds away. It is ironic that Reverend Price was actually the one being taught the lesson in this situation, showing that although he is a higher authority, he still needs to be taught, just like everyone else because no one is superior to God.

Also in the garden scene, I saw the seeds as a reference to the biblical parable of the mustard seed. In this parable, Jesus tells a crowd that although they may not understand something he teaches, if they have faith the size of a mustard seed, they will flourish like the seed does when planted. When Leah and Reverend Price aren’t open to planting the seeds how Mama Tataba instructs them to, all of the seeds are washed away by the rain, but when they become open to her ideas, the seeds flourish.

This novel has already taught so much about being open to others ideas and beliefs in order to make us better people, but I wonder if throughout the book, the Price family will continue to be open to the African way of life or if they will let their egos get the best of them?