RunningHead:ADAH

Adah
Prompt4
JacobHouse
WestCareerandTechnicalAcademy


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Adah
AdahPriceisthetwinsisterofLeahPriceinthenovel
ThePoisonwoodBible
byBarbara

Kingsolver.Kingsolverpresentsastrugglebetweencaptivityandfreedominadditiontoloveand
betrayal.Adahisthecharacterthatbestrepresentsthesestruggles.Beingtheonlychildwitha
disability,shealreadyhasadisadvantage.Shedecidestotakeapassiveroleintheworldby
choosingtobemute,whichmakesheragoodcharactertorepresentthesestrugglesbecause
Adahherworldfromathirdpersonperspective.Kingsolverpresentsthisstruggleasitrelatesto
thethemeofinjusticewithAdahsexperiencesduringherresidencyintheCongo.
Beingsuchasmartandtalentedyounglady,Adahhasthemisfortuneofbeingapartof
thePricefamily.HermentalcaptivityisrepresentedbyherfatherNathanhefindsthateducation
isawasteoftimewhenAdahreferences,(Nathan)warnedMothernottofloutGodsWillby
expectingtoomuchforus.Sendingagirltocollegeislikepouringwaterinyourshoes,hestill
lovestosay,asoftenaspossible...AndsoIshallneverhaveopportunitytohavemyleather
wreckedbycollege,(Kingsolver,1998,p.53).However,Adahtakesadvantageofthiscaptivity
byvoluntarilybeingmutesoshecantakeapassiveroleandseethingsthroughherown
perspective.Shecreatesherownfreedombylookingattheworld(t)hroughAdaheyes,ohthe
worldisabogglewithcolorsandshapescompetingforahalfbrainsattention.Theparade
neverstops.Intothejangledpiecesofroadlittlejungleroostersstepfromthebush,
karkadoodling,(Kingsolver,1998,p.28).Kingsolverrelatesthestrugglebetweencaptivityand
freedomwithAdahsmindherfatherholdingitcaptive,butthefreedomofherself.Shecouldbe
consideredtheonlyPricefamilymembertothinkforhimselfandcreateherownopinion,
regardlessofNathanorOrleanna'sopinions.


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Adahisalsoastrongcharactertorepresentthestrugglebetweenloveandbetrayaland

KingsolverusesAdahsrelationshipwithOreannatoemphasizethesethemes.Oreannaclearly
lovesherchildren.Atsomepointinthenovel,allofthedaughtersresolveOreannainapositive
fashion.AdahstwinsisterLeahrevealsOrleanna'scarewhentheyarepreparingtoleavewhen
shestates,Mothertriedtothinkofeverycontingency,includinghungerandillness,
(Kingsolver,1998,p.13).AdahalsopresentsevidenceofOrleanna'slovebytellingabouta
playfulandmemorableexperienceof(Adahs)earliestMothermemorieslielaughingblueeyed
inthegrass,childherself,rollingsidetosideasRachelandLeahdecoratedheralloverwith
purplecloverjewelry.(Kingsolver,1998,p.52).However,KingsolverusesOrleannatobetray
Adahduringtheantattack.Adahevengoesasfarastelling,Ishouldhavebeendevouredinmy
bed,forallIseemtobeworth.Inonemomentalive,andinthenextleftbehind.Tuggedfrom
ourbedsbysomethingorsomeone,theruckus,bangingandshoutingoutside,mysistersleaped
upscreamingandweregone.Icouldnotmakeasoundfortheantsatmythroat.Idragged
myselfouttomoonlightandfoundanightmarevisionofdarkred,boilingground.Nothingstood
still,nomanorbeast,noteventhegrassthatwrithedbeneaththeshadow,darkandravenous.
Noteventhestartledgrass.Onlymymotherstoodstill.Thereshewas,plantedbeforemeinthe
path,risingonthinlegsoutoftherootlessdevouringearth.Inherarms,crosswiselikealoadof
kindling,RuthMay.(Kingsolver,1998,p.263).OrleannabetraysAdahwhensheleavesherin
theattack.Adahknowsthatsheshouldhavediedbecauseshewasabandoned,butinstead,she
hastoexperiencesomethingevenworsethandeathshehastowatchhermotherwithRuth
MayinherarmsasAdahisclosetotouchingdeath.Kingsolverusesthistoexemplifythe
struggleofloveandbetrayalbydisplayingachoicethathermotherhadmade.


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Thesestrugglesrelatetothethemeofinjustice.Injusticeaffectseveryoneinthenovel,

butespeciallyAdah.Adahhasadisabilitythatalreadyimpedesherwilltolive,howevershe
feelsalone.Adahdeclaresherselftonothaveareligion,soshemustfindothersourcesof
comfortandsecurity,andherownselfworthcanonlygivehersomuch.Inaddition,herfamily
clearlydoesnotprovidetheloveandsupportthatsheneeds.Itisaverypainful,bothmentally
andphysically,experienceofinjusticeforAdahthatshehasthemisfortuneofhavingto
experience.
Inconclusion,KingsolverusesAdahtoportraythestrugglebetweencaptivityand
freedomwiththestruggleofloveandbetrayaltoproveoneofthethemesinthenovelabout
injustice.Adahisasmartandtalentedcharacterinthenovel.Shehadaverydifficulttimeliving
withherfamily,andthememoriesshewasforcedtoexperiencedonotmakehertimeinthe
Congoandherlifeasawhole.


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References

Kingsolver,B.(1998).
ThePoisonwoodBible
[IBooks].