The Poisonwood Bible Book 3, Chapter 9 Summary

How It All Goes Down

Adah

  • Ruth May's getting worse, but Tata Ndu has been surprisingly generous to the Price family.
  • Nelson tells Mother that Tata Ndu been showering them with gifts because he wants to marry Rachel. Seeing what a ridiculous match this would be, she can't help laughing.
  • Nelson says Tata Ndu wants Rachel because she's white, a different color from all his other wives.
  • Mother doesn't understand, thinking that this makes Rachel sound like an accessory.
  • Then they just stare dumbly at each other. Adah observes, "My mother and Nelson had reached the limits of mutual understanding" (3.9.32).
  • We'll say.