The Congo is a completely different place and is not as clean as where they used to live. The Congo did have hospitals, but they were poor ones that didn’t have the right equipment or enough money to cure some sicknesses. Leah says, “I used to threaten Ruth May’s life so carelessly just to make her behave. Now I had to face the possibility that we really could lose her. (3.5.130)” When the family decides to move to the woods, Ruth May gets diagnosed with malaria. The virus worsens and worsens. She eventually gets killed by the virus. This is where Orleanna decides that enough is enough. She takes her daughters and leaves the Congo. It is a big journey trying to escape the journey. They weren’t able to just move back to where they were like they got there. This whole time Orleanna has now sacrificed her own child’s life and her husband’s life. Rachel ends up leaving and being the same selfish girl that only cares about materialistic things and herself. Orleanna then lost another child because of the trip to the Congo. Orleanna basically then takes Leah back home with her because she is the only one that is capable of making it home. Orleanna is now loosing her children. This is causing her to be humble and is shaping her character into a very thankful person. She learns to be more appreciative of what she has rather than being bitter because of what is happening. Orleanna is realizing that their …show more content…
When they lived where they used to live they could basically do whatever they wanted to. Now, living in the Congo, they can’t really do whatever they want. Orleanna Wasn't really able to be free anyways because of Nathan. Now, not only was she with Nathan, but she was in a completely different country. One in which she knew nothing about. The Congo had a lot stricter rules. There was a lot less to do than in America. The people there weren’t like the people they were used to, and they definitely weren’t as friendly. Orleanna didn’t really communicate that much with others unless she was talking to them about God and trying to make them understand their beliefs. She did have a few close friends though. Unlike Rachel, Adah loved it and wanted to meet and talk to so many different people. Adah saw how her mother was acting and knew exactly how she felt, She knew that she was very unhappy where she was. Adah observes, “she seemed determined to grow tragedy out of herself like a bad haircut” (5.3.3), and “ She was an entire botanical garden waiting to happen.”(5.3.13). It's kind of ironic how they use floral imagery. Nathan always was one to have a green thumb. When he refused to listen to Mama Tataba, it caused his plants to suffocate and drown. Almost like what he did to Orleanna and his daughters. When Orleanna finally decides that she doesn’t need Nathan and leaves him, she can finally