Essay #1

(I only made it 4 Paragraphs because i wanted to stay close to 40min and ran out of time) 

Michael Hall

Period 4

Essay 1

              Edward Said said that exile can be “terrible to experience…” but also a "potent, even enriching” experience, this can be seen through the novel The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver. The book tracks the story of a family as they go on a missionary expedition in the Congo. One of the most interesting aspects of the story is how the family reacts and adapts to their new home and how each person individually reacts to the new situation. Moving can be tough for people, even more for children. Simple moves to different cities are hard, but a move to another country with a completely different culture can feel like exile. But just like the quote says in exile people truly show themselves and their ability to overcome challenges. One example of this is the Leah, she starts nervous just like every one else but truly changes over the story and develops.

              Exile can be terrible, think of leaving all you know and going somewhere that is completely different. For any person that is a daunting task, it can be even harder when it’s a child who is only accustomed to one place. Leah is that child, her and her family moved to the Congo from the US, and immediately where hit with the realization that they were under prepared. First impressions are very important in any setting, and they immediately saw completely new people, habits, and culture. This is one of the major struggles with moving, the fear of the unknown and the loss of the comfortable. To start all the girls including Leah were both frightened and fascinated by the new world they were in.

             The quote also says that exile can enrich a person’s life; this is very true for Leah. She was one of the first to adjust to the world and enjoy it. As their time in the Congo went Leah began to learn more and more about the local culture and customs. She began to love the outdoors and began to learn the basics of survival. As she does she begins to embrace this new life and regrets that she did not learn these skills later. This is evident when she insists on being able to participate in the major hunt. Unlike most people who would miss their old lives, she decides to embrace it and move forward. By doing this she is turning the rift that she faced in her life into a good situation.

             Exile is always considered a horrible punishment, and it can be, but according to Edward Said it can also enrich a person’s life. In the novel The Poisonwood Bible, by Barbara Kingsolver, the character Leah shows that even when a person’s life is completely changed and you move to a completely new place that you can still prosper. Even after movie she adapted to the environment and stayed for a long time trying to help the problems that she saw in Africa. Truly the “exile” that she went through gave her a greater appreciation for other cultures an enriched her life.