Imperialism of Leah

In the novel Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver Leah Prices struggle with
malaria and her tyrant of a father symbolizes Africas long fought battle against imperialism
while her determined and stubborn character supports the idea that life will never fully succumb
to utter destruction.It is clear from the beggining of the novel that Leah has inherited her
stubborness from her Father and is brainwashed into using such self-righteousness as an excuse
for acts of ignorance and evil. Such ignorance was also present in Africa when it was blind to the
true intent of evil countries such as belgium and the United States, and so it was poisoned.
However, there was still hope that rested within one man for Leah, and another for Africa.
Anatole opened Leahs eyes to the wrongs many white men similar to her father have done to
Africa. Due to this new revelation, Leah can connect many of the injustices in the Congo to the
injustices that Nathan has inflicted upon her. Anatole leads her away from her fathers
imperialistic ways and Leah begins to claim independence. Patrice Lumumba served the same
purpose as Anatole as he leads the people of Africa to question the imperialists authority and
Africa too claims its Independence. This period of exciting revelations does not last long for
Leah or for Africa due to Lumumbas assassination and a deadly case of malaria that is
ultimately because of Ruth Mays death. Mobutu and malaria take control over Africa and Leah
and independence is lost once more, but hope still lives. Anatole nurses Leah to a somewhat
stable health and they continue their lives together fighting against Mobutu and the governments
who are mere puppets to the imperialists. Although Africa has lost its promising Patrice
Lumumba, there are plenty of people, including Anatole, that have the same beliefs as Lumumba
so his legacy lives on feeding the starving people of Africa small portions of hope. Leah sees
these small helpings as a victory because she believes there is still something to fight for and
claims she is coming to understand the length and breadth of outsiders failure to impose (524).
Leah believes that imperialists inability to completely diminish the people of Africa and
therefore the hopeful spirit that exists within Lumumba and Anatole a complete failure.
Therefore the spirit of hope lives on with Leah and Africa after all the destruction and ruin that
has plagued them for so long.