Poisonwood Prompt

                                                                                                Lillyana Navarrete

                                                                                                                        Dr. Preston

                                                                                                                        AP English 12

                                                                                                                        Aug. 12, 2014 p.4

Throughout the novel The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver, a family is relocated to a barren and hostile environment of the Congo in the hope that the introduction of Christianity will help save the community. Although many characters were faced with the similar situation, a prolific effect mentally, emotionally, and physically was the Prices’ oldest child, Rachel. During the beginning chapters readers see Rachel continually complaining about having to bring items wrapped in their multiple layers of clothing. During the story we see a static character who interacts with what is familiar to her and we see her shy away from things that are foreign and unknown. For a girl of 15-years-old, Rachel shows the exact characteristics that you would expect in a teen that was randomly flown to a different land in the hope of saving a community.

            Throughout her time in the Congo with her family, Rachel was isolated from everything that she had originally grown accustomed to. Her biggest challenged proved to be to overcome these basic needs and start focusing on her family’s mission. However during the plotline, her basic ideas of priorities never change. She stays headstrong in her morals that appearance and self-image are main concern. Rachel constantly views books, “by the covers.” We see this in the way she judges and makes inference about people. Some examples of this would be where she was judging Anatole when she first met him. She knew he was a great and worthy gentlemen but her reaction was that the “hair-like” scars that covered his face were unattractive.

            Although the Congo experience solidified her belief that the area she was meant to be was in America, she did not return. She stayed and married a Hotel owner. This mode of survival that Rachel uses to get things that she needs in the Congo is and example of individuals, mostly young women, who use their looks and their bodies to gain advantage over others. Animals also use this instinct with relation to natural selection in regards to harsh conditions. Rachel’s experience in the Congo may have been the same as her family but her views on morals and appearances where the individual aspect that created her experience different that the others. She remains a flat character even when faced with the death of her sister Ruth May.

            Rachel’s experience in the Congo illuminates the idea that when faced with alien ideas or lands most humans choose the path in which they know will get them what they need. They turn to the bare minimum for their survival needs and use their talents to obtain what they need. In Rachel’s case as well as many other females, using body and appearance gets what they need in life. Rachel’ experience of being isolated in the Congo and fighting to survive in a hostile environment are an appropriate example of what some kids may do when in similar conditions.