A few days ago we had our first entire class discussion about the Poisonwood Bible, and let me tell you it got heated! Ok, well most people were in agreement on many opinions of the characters and book itself, but the things we dicussed and the questions that were raised were still quite interesting.
Our discussion mainly revolved around the highly complex Nathan Price. Basically, from what we know of him, he comes of ass completely selfish, thinks the world revolves around him, and he is both physically and mentally unable to see any point of view other then his own. These traits are beautifully displayed in Revelations, where he is argueing with Anatole about the stupidity of idolatry. And how the Congolese people are unable to change and see what could be actually helping them. I think this scene is pretty ironic because it is shadowing his complete inability to try and understand the Congolese people and compromise. He can't accept that his beliefs and teachings stand no chance if he doesn't take into consideration how different the people in his village are from his hometown. A good metaphor for this situation is in Genesis when he is talking to leah about his plants not bearing fruit. He seems to understand the necessity of adaptation when he explains to Leah how you can't just make African bee's pollinate American plants and you cna''t bring American bee's to the african plants. This perfectly mirrors the way he can't show up and force the African people to accept Christianity unless it is adapted to fit their lifestyle. He can't try as much as he wants to plant the seeds of his religion into the heads of the Congolese people, but he can't force them to follow it just as he can't force hisplants to bear fruit. It takes some sort of adaptation, or something like the planting mounds to bridge the gap from American religion to religion in the Congo. Nathan Price is a character I find very frusterating and it seems as I delve further into the book the more I am aggravated by his extreme stubborness, and disrespect towards nearly everyone besides god himself, especially his family members. I have not even started to address the sexist/gender issues in this book which I will attempt to do in Revelations. But on an ending note, as our class discussion was winding down someone playing the devils advocate brought up the fact that he thinks he is doing what's best for the people of Kilanga and for his family he just has a completely messed up way of carrying out his wishes. This raised some hard questions for me;
If someone had good intentions, but a bad outcome or way of going about it, does that make them a bad person?
If your intentions are good and pur is it ok if the results are not?
Friday, March 9, 2007
Nathan's Prayer
"Heavenly father, I have never once doubted or questioned your plan for me. Not even as I stood in the middle of a fruitless garden in Africa surrounded by confused and indecent sinners, not then did I doubt our ability to help them. But as I sit here in a chapel, for crying out loud, I am almost brought to tears by what surrounds me. I had only taken a few steps here when I spotted the first indecency. Girls running around like prostitutes with their boobs and midriffs showing, flaunting there nail polish and sex itself. And as if that wasn't bad enough. I saw two kids kissing in plain view of absolutely everyone! That combined with the profanity that carelessly runs from nearly everones mouth and the single ratty copy of the bible that this school has is enough to make me livid. That's why I came here to the chapel, because I doubt you would want to have anything to do with a single other place on this forsaken campus. Noone here seems to see you like I do. Could there possibly be some mistake, not to cast doubt upon you father, but is there any possibility you might have led me wrong, accidentaly to the place where you keep your mistaken creations that just weren't suitable for living and believing with the rest of us? I never thought these words would come from my own mouth, mine that has turned ignorant into believers, sinners into followers, and women into suitable disciples. Please send me an answer quickly, father, your wish is my command. But in all seriousness I think that this wretched place is too far removed from what miracles even I can perform. Amen."
-Nathan Price
-Nathan Price
Monday, March 5, 2007
P.W.B. (lexicography)
Most people know that vocabulary is not my strong suit, so I decided to challenge myself and incorporate lexicography into my Poisonwood bible reading.
SMOTE; (past of smite) verb, to strike or hit. Ex. She smote him on the back with her umbrella.
EMISSARIES; noun plural, representatves sent on a mission or errand. Ex. They were emissaries to negotiate peace.
GALLIMAUFRY; noun, a hodgepodge, jumble, confused medly Ex. I am a lame galllimaufry and she is always perfect.
CONSORTING; verb (from consort), partnering, associating, a husband or wife. Ex. He had been consorting with the locals.
CONTEMPTUOUS;adj., show or expressing contempt, didain, scornful, open disrespect. Ex.In Georgia I had seen people angered by my father before, or intimidated, but never comtemptuous. (p.40)
PAROXYSM; a sudden violent outburst, fit of violent actions or emotion. Ex. He had a paroxysm of anger.
PESTILENCE; noun, A usually fatal epidemic or disease. Ex. The bubonic plague.
CASTIGATED; verb (castigate) to reprimand severly or punish in order to correct. Ex. She was castigated for her use of a swear word.
INSOLENCE; noun, rude behavior or speech. Ex. She was punished for her insolence towards her elders.
LATRINE; noun, A toilet or something used as one. Ex. He was forced to make a nearby bush act as a latrine.
REGALED; verb (part of regale), to entertain lavishly with choice food or drink. Ex. They regaled their honorary guest for many days.
Definitions from; www.dictionary.com
SMOTE; (past of smite) verb, to strike or hit. Ex. She smote him on the back with her umbrella.
EMISSARIES; noun plural, representatves sent on a mission or errand. Ex. They were emissaries to negotiate peace.
GALLIMAUFRY; noun, a hodgepodge, jumble, confused medly Ex. I am a lame galllimaufry and she is always perfect.
CONSORTING; verb (from consort), partnering, associating, a husband or wife. Ex. He had been consorting with the locals.
CONTEMPTUOUS;adj., show or expressing contempt, didain, scornful, open disrespect. Ex.In Georgia I had seen people angered by my father before, or intimidated, but never comtemptuous. (p.40)
PAROXYSM; a sudden violent outburst, fit of violent actions or emotion. Ex. He had a paroxysm of anger.
PESTILENCE; noun, A usually fatal epidemic or disease. Ex. The bubonic plague.
CASTIGATED; verb (castigate) to reprimand severly or punish in order to correct. Ex. She was castigated for her use of a swear word.
INSOLENCE; noun, rude behavior or speech. Ex. She was punished for her insolence towards her elders.
LATRINE; noun, A toilet or something used as one. Ex. He was forced to make a nearby bush act as a latrine.
REGALED; verb (part of regale), to entertain lavishly with choice food or drink. Ex. They regaled their honorary guest for many days.
Definitions from; www.dictionary.com
My future in Psychology...
I will now attempt to disect the brains and personality's of the extremely interesting and complicated minds of the lead characters of the Poisonwood Bible.
I have just finished Genesis, and for this chapter in addition to taking note of and learning new words I thought analyzing what we know so far about each main character would be helpful when it comes to reading and understanding this book.
For this Chapter I decided to especially observe Orleanna, Ruth May,and Leah, but I couldn't help but take note on all the complex and interesting characters in the book.
ORLEANNA PRICE- She started off the book with a beautifully written, descripitive intro about the being in the forest with her daughters. I now realize the significance of the fact that she desn't once mention her husband. I believe this is because she would rather not have him in her life and somewhat resents him for the life he has forced upon her and the degrading way he treats women. She also states in the beginning that being a part of this mission adn seeing what she has seen somewhat contaminated her. She asks, "What more is the conquerors wife then a conquest herself? For that matter, what is he?," (p.9). I believe this quote eludes to the regret she feels for having coming and her guilt for what happend because of it. In the rest of the chapter she is not mentioned too much other then when she is silently defying her husband in small ways. When Ruth May is talking about her mother and Mama Tataba discussing the lady that almost got burned to death but didn't actually die, her mother says, "..that was the poor woman's bad luck, because now she has to go right on tending after her husband and her seven or eight children," (p.52) This quote may either be establishing the idea that Orleanna doesn't like being a wife and mother or that she just realizes how difficult it is and feel sorry for a woman thathas to do it with no legs.
RUTH MAY PRICE- She is only five and is very innocent. She does believe many things she hears from her parents to be facts and relays them to the audience like there is no question in her mind about them. The tibes of Ham story is a good example of this but it is unclear as to how she came upon the conclusion that the african were black because they descended from the bad son of god. I have feeling that she will play a bigger role as the book continues.She is, however, useful in getting information and unbiased observations across to the audience.
LEAH PRICE- This character continues to perplex me.
I have just finished Genesis, and for this chapter in addition to taking note of and learning new words I thought analyzing what we know so far about each main character would be helpful when it comes to reading and understanding this book.
For this Chapter I decided to especially observe Orleanna, Ruth May,and Leah, but I couldn't help but take note on all the complex and interesting characters in the book.
ORLEANNA PRICE- She started off the book with a beautifully written, descripitive intro about the being in the forest with her daughters. I now realize the significance of the fact that she desn't once mention her husband. I believe this is because she would rather not have him in her life and somewhat resents him for the life he has forced upon her and the degrading way he treats women. She also states in the beginning that being a part of this mission adn seeing what she has seen somewhat contaminated her. She asks, "What more is the conquerors wife then a conquest herself? For that matter, what is he?," (p.9). I believe this quote eludes to the regret she feels for having coming and her guilt for what happend because of it. In the rest of the chapter she is not mentioned too much other then when she is silently defying her husband in small ways. When Ruth May is talking about her mother and Mama Tataba discussing the lady that almost got burned to death but didn't actually die, her mother says, "..that was the poor woman's bad luck, because now she has to go right on tending after her husband and her seven or eight children," (p.52) This quote may either be establishing the idea that Orleanna doesn't like being a wife and mother or that she just realizes how difficult it is and feel sorry for a woman thathas to do it with no legs.
RUTH MAY PRICE- She is only five and is very innocent. She does believe many things she hears from her parents to be facts and relays them to the audience like there is no question in her mind about them. The tibes of Ham story is a good example of this but it is unclear as to how she came upon the conclusion that the african were black because they descended from the bad son of god. I have feeling that she will play a bigger role as the book continues.She is, however, useful in getting information and unbiased observations across to the audience.
LEAH PRICE- This character continues to perplex me.
Thursday, March 1, 2007
SAT Essay Analysis
I would say that i am dreading taking the SAT, but that would be a giant understatement. Ever since I've known of it's very existqnce I have found it terrifying. And worst of all, the newly introduces SAT essay. When we first started to practice the essays in class last semester I was told that the point of this essay is to prove you have a voice and that you are able to convincingly argue and support a point of view. From doing a couple practice essays like this, and from reading those of others I have compiled a brief list of pointers to follow and work on when dealing with the SAT essay.
-Have a voice; upon realing the graders of this essay will have seen tons of essays already it is important to make them interested and want to read on, because this is part of the SAT is really the only way they can get a sense of your personality and who you really are.
-A good angle on the answer of the question; I was told before that it is best to choose either yes or no to the question so as not to make it seem like your wishy washy and can't clearly support a point. However, now I have learned that the best way is to come up with a point that clearly explains why it is yes and no bcause in life nothing is ever black and white, there is always a grey area. This part of the exam exemplifies this because it's not like a scantron where theres right or worong they want to see your views on right and wrong.
-EXAMPLES; examples are the only way to convincingly support your point besides "because I said so," they are also a good way to show off your worldly-ness and flaunt your knowledge of things going on in the world.
-Vocabulary; besides the english section of the test vocabulary is a great way to earn points here to. Showing off your correct usage of sophisticated words can only benefit you in the long run and grading of the essay. This is a skill that I definetly should invest in improving and I'm sure many other people can relate.
- Flow; If you don't got it fake it, making your essay flow and transition well from paragraph to paragraph will leave the readers with the idea that you had the essay under control even if you struggled a little in other areas. It's kind of like the after taste.
-Have a voice; upon realing the graders of this essay will have seen tons of essays already it is important to make them interested and want to read on, because this is part of the SAT is really the only way they can get a sense of your personality and who you really are.
-A good angle on the answer of the question; I was told before that it is best to choose either yes or no to the question so as not to make it seem like your wishy washy and can't clearly support a point. However, now I have learned that the best way is to come up with a point that clearly explains why it is yes and no bcause in life nothing is ever black and white, there is always a grey area. This part of the exam exemplifies this because it's not like a scantron where theres right or worong they want to see your views on right and wrong.
-EXAMPLES; examples are the only way to convincingly support your point besides "because I said so," they are also a good way to show off your worldly-ness and flaunt your knowledge of things going on in the world.
-Vocabulary; besides the english section of the test vocabulary is a great way to earn points here to. Showing off your correct usage of sophisticated words can only benefit you in the long run and grading of the essay. This is a skill that I definetly should invest in improving and I'm sure many other people can relate.
- Flow; If you don't got it fake it, making your essay flow and transition well from paragraph to paragraph will leave the readers with the idea that you had the essay under control even if you struggled a little in other areas. It's kind of like the after taste.
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