PWB: Significant Quotes (p35-68)

Leah:
"It was to be our first African miracle: an infinite chain of benevolence rising from these small, crackling seed packets, flowing outward across Congo like ripples from a rock dropped in a pond" (36).
Leah thought this when her father was starting to make a garden near their house, where he planned to grow food for his family and the village. This quote is significant because it relates to what the Price family is going to do in Africa; they will change things with good intentions and cause a ripple that will extend throughout all of Africa, whether it is for the better or for the worst.
"What does she mean, make hills?" (40).
Leah said this when Mama Tataba tried to instruct Leah's father about how he should be planting his seeds. When Leah's father didn't listen to her, she left in frustration. This is significant because it shows that because the Price family and the natives have trouble understanding each other and accepting each other's ideas, it will create tension and will probably cause the two parties to become more distant from one another.
Rachel:
"They seem to think we are Santa Clause, the way the children come around begging us for food and things every single day—and us as poor as church mice!" (47).
Rachel thought this when her father tried to host a picnic. Rachel is disgusted by their begging, because she thinks that it is rude. This is significant because it shows how the villagers are easily bribed, which could be how the Price family will teach their religion to the villagers. Also, this shows the difference in the point of view of the Price family and the villagers; the villagers believe that begging is normal, whereas the Price family thinks that begging is rude.
"When he gets his mind set on something you'd just as well prepare to see it through" (49).
Rachel thought this during the picnic when she saw her father thinking about something. She hates that her father brought them here, but you can tell she is scared of his resolve. This is significance because his resolve will force the family to endure the hardships that come with trying to teach the village their religion. So it sets up the story so that they will accomplish their mission or die trying.
Ruth May:
“They are living in darkness. Broken in body and soul, and don’t even see how they could be healed” (53).
Nathan Price said this when he was talking about the villagers’ disabilities. This shows how the Price family values appearance whereas the villagers are indifferent to appearance. This is significant because it shows the difference in opinions of the two parties and it hints that Nathan will possibly try to force the Price’s idea of properness on the villagers.
“Even something precious can get shabby in the course of things. Considering what they’re up against here, that might not be such a bad attitude for them to take” (54).
Orleanna said this when she was arguing with Nathan about the villagers’ disabilities. By trying to rationalize their ignorance towards their bodies, she is showing empathy towards them. This is significant because it shows how the family could realize that they shouldn’t disturb the village’s traditions by forcing their beliefs on them, because they have their own reasons for their beliefs.
Adah:
“‘Sending a girl to college is like pouring water in your shoes,’ he still loves to say as often as possible. ‘It’s hard to say which is worse, seeing it run out and waste the water, or seeing it hold in and wreck the shoes’” (56).
These were Nathan’s thoughts when he found out that Leah and Adah were gifted. This shows how he doesn’t hold a woman’s opinion very high, which means that it is very unlikely that his family has an affect on his decisions in Africa. This hints that either Nathan changes his thoughts, or he will completely decide his family’s fate, whether it will be for the better or worse.
“Nevertheless, Our Father had been influenced by Africa. He was out there pushing his garden up into rectangular, flood-proof embankments, exactly the length and width of burial mounds” (63).
Adah thought this while she was observing her father fix his garden after it had flooded. This is significant because Nathan didn’t listen to Mama Tataba and because he didn’t try to accept her knowledge, his garden was destroyed. This shows that although the Price family went to Congo to teach their religion, they have as much to learn from the natives as they can teach them.
Leah:
“‘If there’s anything to be learned from this,’ he said, ‘it’s about the stink and taint of original sin’” (67).
Nathan said this when he learned that someone had said “damn” in front of their parrot, so that the parrot copied them and started to say it. This is significant because Nathan is going to try to teach the villagers his religion, but by doing so, it could permanently damage their lifestyle. Also, it is interesting because Ruth May is very impressionable, and Nathan’s opinions, both good and bad, are being imposed on her and his opinions will have an everlasting effect on her.
“Even back when we were young I remember running to throw my arms around Mother’s knees when he regaled her with words and worse, for curtains unclosed or slips showing—the sins of womanhood” (68).
Leah recalled this when Nathan was punishing her and her sisters since they had taken the blame for their mother’s mistake. This is significant because it shows the power of fear that Nathan has over the family. This shows that Nathan’s word is unquestioned in the family, so they will stay in Africa for as long as Nathan wants.