The Poisonwood Bible Book 3, Chapter 15 Quotes
The Poisonwood Bible Book 3, Chapter 15 Quotes
How we cite the quotes:
(Book.Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote 1
"Secretly, most [Congolese] believe white people know how to turn the sun on and off and make the river flow backward. [...] They think you represent a greedy nation." (3.15.13, 3.15.15)
The Congolese view of whites is about as backwards as whites' view of the Congolese. Why do the Congolese hold whites up to these god-like standards? Perhaps it's because the whites march into the Congo pretty much acting like they can do these things.
Quote 2
"What is the purpose of so many automobiles at the same time? [...] Why is nobody walking?" (3.15.45, 3.15.47)
Um, we ask ourselves this question all. the. time.—especially when we're stuck on the 405. So, yep, we think Anatole makes a good point here. Everyone in America needs a car because things are so spread apart, but things are so spread apart because everyone has a car. It's a chicken/egg conundrum, and there may be no way to solve it.
Quote 3
This word béene-béene, you want to know what it means, then? […] It means, as true as the truth can be." (3.15.103, 3.15.104)
Why does Congolese have a word for the "truest truth" when English does not? Do the words a language contains tell you anything about the people who speak it—and is English just better for lying with?