Character Essay: Poisonwood Bible

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Leah Price Ngemba In Barbara Kingsolver’s book The Poisonwood Bible the Price girls each write their own story. The setting is based upon historical facts while the characters are vivid inventions by Kingsolver. In order for the Price family to survive the daughters become part of the Congolese culture. Leah Price depicts this change more than the others. From the arrival of the Price family she is a firm supporter of her father, Nathan Price, but as the novel progresses Leah becomes aware of the self-centered, wrong behavior of her father. Leah rallies her sisters together for their survival by becoming part of the Congolese culture. Leah Price is intelligent and determined, though she loses her Baptist religion she remains idealistic. Leah uses her intelligence to understand the world around her and to help others. From an early age others see that she is exceptional. “When we entered the first grade, we were examined by... Miss Leep, who announced that we were gifted: Leah, on account of her nonchalant dazzling scores on reading-comprehension tests...”(56). Leah is able to quickly learn how things work and how to use them. Kingsolver depicts Leah as someone who is able to learn quickly, however, Leah only learns what intrigues her. Leah uses her knowledge of mathematics to teach in Anatole’s school. It is at this time she begins to fulfill her need to help others using the tools she has. In her way, Leah sees being a tomboy as an answer. While Leah was still in Georgia her classmates were being to physically develop. “...I bobbed off my hair and vowed to remain a tomboy” (103). This can be seen as a weakness or a strength. Most girls would feel left out and become upset, however, Leah takes an approach that allows her to continue her studies which makes being a tomboy a strength. When Leah is in Africa being a tomboy was more about survival. She is climbs

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