The Poisonwood BibleThe Poisonwood BibleBook 4Book 4

MobutuMobutu

““A rook who would be king.”A rook who would be king.”

Connection to CIAConnection to CIA

Truth comes out 15 years later (1975)Truth comes out 15 years later (1975) Lumumba threatened the worldLumumba threatened the world CIA wanted/needed a replacementCIA wanted/needed a replacement Lumumba is beaten savagely- diesLumumba is beaten savagely- dies

““Oh, it’s a fine and useless enterprise, trying Oh, it’s a fine and useless enterprise, trying to fix destiny” (324).to fix destiny” (324).

What we lostWhat we lost

““Each bad thing causes something worse” Each bad thing causes something worse” (327).(327).

Nathan forces a vote for Christ; Christ loses.Nathan forces a vote for Christ; Christ loses. Result: Nathan’s perception of the “pitiful Result: Nathan’s perception of the “pitiful

country…children dying…poverty.”country…children dying…poverty.”

Tata NduTata Ndu Knows the history, the place, the peopleKnows the history, the place, the people Knows the strength of Congolese comes Knows the strength of Congolese comes

without/despite white menwithout/despite white men

Village HuntVillage Hunt

Village HuntVillage Hunt Create a ring of fire to trap animalsCreate a ring of fire to trap animals Leah is allowed to accompany the men Leah is allowed to accompany the men

(unheard of before)(unheard of before) Irony: the same people who voted down Christ, Irony: the same people who voted down Christ,

vote for Leahvote for Leah Serves as a warning to Tata Ndu= the people Serves as a warning to Tata Ndu= the people

have chosen to make have chosen to make changechange..

Leah kills a young impala/ others (Tata Ndu’s Leah kills a young impala/ others (Tata Ndu’s son) claim they did itson) claim they did it

Seeing the HuntSeeing the Hunt

AdahAdah Sees Tata Ndu’s angerSees Tata Ndu’s anger Watches the hunt with anticipation- what will come?Watches the hunt with anticipation- what will come? Sees the happiness that death brings the people: Sees the happiness that death brings the people:

“The death of something living is the price of our “The death of something living is the price of our own survival, and we pay it again and again” (347)own survival, and we pay it again and again” (347)

RachelRachel Too awful to watch the huntToo awful to watch the hunt Wants food without the consequencesWants food without the consequences Tries to wash herself cleanTries to wash herself clean Equates humans to animalsEquates humans to animals

What should have been What should have been the best was the worstthe best was the worst

““Eyes watched us from the trees…” Eyes watched us from the trees…” (353).(353).

SnakeSnake Nelson sees a snake outside the Nelson sees a snake outside the

chicken house: “There was some chicken house: “There was some dark thing out there watching us dark thing out there watching us from the forest and coiling up” from the forest and coiling up” (357).(357).

Tool of the witch doctor?Tool of the witch doctor? Tata Kuvudundu (“single Tata Kuvudundu (“single

dancer with six toes”)dancer with six toes”) Threatened the familyThreatened the family Placed the snake in the Placed the snake in the

family’s wayfamily’s way

Ruth May’s DeathRuth May’s Death

Bitten by a snakeBitten by a snake

Adah recites Dickinson poem, “Because I Adah recites Dickinson poem, “Because I could not stop for death…”could not stop for death…”

Orleanna “behaves as if someone else had Orleanna “behaves as if someone else had already told her” (368)already told her” (368) Did she know/anticipate she’d lose a child?Did she know/anticipate she’d lose a child? She seems preparedShe seems prepared

Ultimate irony: Ruth May dies without being Ultimate irony: Ruth May dies without being baptizedbaptized

BaptismBaptism

Cleansing: Orleanna washes Ruth May Cleansing: Orleanna washes Ruth May

She sings to RM like a babyShe sings to RM like a baby

Everyone watches Orleanna’s love for Ruth Everyone watches Orleanna’s love for Ruth May and sees her favoritismMay and sees her favoritism

Ruth May’s death equalizes Orleanna with the Ruth May’s death equalizes Orleanna with the Congolese women (370).Congolese women (370).

Orleanna gives everything away- she’s doneOrleanna gives everything away- she’s done

The StormThe Storm

Needed to end the droughtNeeded to end the drought

Symbolically comes after Ruth May’s deathSymbolically comes after Ruth May’s death

Nathan takes the opportunity to baptize Ruth Nathan takes the opportunity to baptize Ruth May and all the other children of KilangaMay and all the other children of Kilanga