Ruth May Research Paper

The Price family's intention to single-handedly convert the natural ways of the Congo acted as a kick-start to Ruth May’s tragic downfall. As the Price family ventured throughout Kilanga they were faced with challenges. The traditional values of the Congolese were foreign to the Price family and their actions brought along consequences. The garden, Nathan planted was a prime example of the force Kilanga has on the Price family. When Nathan set out to plant his garden, “he declared he would make them grow, in the name of God, or he would plant again if only the sun would ever come out and dry up this accursed mire” (Kingsolver 63). By doing this he respected the African soil and brought life to the garden, but he justified it in the name of God, which halted …show more content…
Leah’s ambitious persona was unintentionally forced on a culture with uniform beliefs. Leah’s participation in the hunt prompted, “the snakes [to] come out of the ground and seek [their] houses instead of hiding in their own” (Kingsolver 339). Her gender pushed the Congolese people to open their minds and nature responded by taking away Ruth May’s life. The snakes were predicted to rise by Tata Kuvudundu’s insight. Tata Kuvudundu had evidence against him that placed him as the physical source of Ruth May’s death, but Leah pushed her siblings to investigate the perpetrator and the snake lashed out with its inherited way of survival. Orleanna’s failure to protect her kin was a factor that contributed to Ruth May’s death. Ruth May was Orleanna’s favorite child and she vowed to protect her, but by doing so she neglected her other children and nature responded by taking away the youngest child. Adah became aware of her need to survive on her own when she found herself, “desperate to save [herself] in a river of people saving themselves” (Kingsolver 306). In comparison to Ruth May, the remaining Price children were forgotten to