"The Mosquito Coast" vs. The Poisonwood Bible: Similarities and Differences

After watching the 1986 movie The Mosquito Coast starring Harrison Ford there are some immediate similarities that come to mind between Harrison Ford's character, Allie, and The Poisonwood Bible's Nathan Price. This movie, and the novel we are reading for class, parallel each other in almost every sense from the destination of the two families(Africa), to family structure, to personalities, to personal missions.
The first and most obvious similarity between Allie and Nathan Price is that both are incredibly strong willed, somewhat crazy men who have very unconventional relationships with their families. In some parts of the movie, as we have seen in certain chapters of The Poisonwood Bible, both Allie and Nathan Price don't seem to care for their family's overall well being very much. During the class discussion reflecting on this movie and book, there was a unanimous feeling that Allie is more affectionate towards his family then Nathan Price is. Although, we may be concluding this because of the simple fact that we are watching Allie interact with his wife and children rather then reading about it from a specific point of view. Another similarity between Allie and Nathan Price is the the family structure both of these men are the "heads" of. Both men have 4 kids, which include a set of twins. Also, Allie and Nathan Price are both quite disrespectful to their wives and don't really take their opinions into consideration. Leah, one of Nathan Price's twin daughters, and Charlie, Allie's oldest son are very much alike in the sense that at the beginning of the book and/or movie both these children hold their father's on very high pedestals, as if they can do no wrong. As the book/movie continues both of these characters eventually rebel against their father's and the decisions they make. Another parallel between these two different stories was that both dealt with a death of a family member. In The Poisonwood Bible Ruth May dies from a snake bite, while in The Mosquito Coast Allie dies from a gun shot wound. Both families suffer a great loss and have to carry their passed family member's body out of Africa. Another similarity between Allie and Nathan Price is that both have their own "thing" to preach. For Allie, it was his inventions and "Fat Boy" ice machine while Nathan Price preaches the Bible and the Word of the Lord. The extreme to which Nathan Price and Allie will go to preach their own things is both good and bad. Like the kikongo word Bangala, it has a double meaning. The last thing that was similar about these two stories is that both included helpful, native African characters. In The Poisonwood Bible the character is Anatole, the school teacher, while in The Mosquito Coast the character is Hatty. Both of these characters try to be extremely helpful but because of the stubbornness of the father's, their help in unappreciated.

Historian: Bel and the Serpent

For this chapter of The Poisonwood Bible I have the responsiblity of Historian, meaning that my job is to research any background information that is relevant or mentioned in this chapter Bel and the Serpent. Most of the researched is surrounding Prime Minister Patrice Lumumba because in the begining of this chapter he is assassinated.

--June 30, 1960: Independence of the Congo
· Along with the Independence came a name change, “Republic of the Congo”.
· In 1966 Joseph Mobutu changed name to the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
· In 1971 the name was changed once again to the Republic of Zaire.

--Following the independence, the provinces of Katanga and South Kasai revolted against the new leadership. This lead to the conflict between Patrice Lumumba, Prime Minister, and Joseph Kasavubu, President.

--Patrice Lumumba:
· In May of 1960 the former Congolese postal worker was elected Prime Minister of the Congo.
· In September Lumumba was dismissed from office by Joseph Kasavubu, the President of the Congo.
· December 1, 1960: Lumumba was arrested in Port Francqui by troops of Joseph Mobutu.
· January 17, 1961: Katagan forces, which had support from Belgium and the United States CIA, assassinate Lumumba. (Belgium and the US CIA gave their support because of their desires for the Congo’s resources such as coal and diamonds.)
--After Lumumba’s death The Belgian Commission found a CIA-sponsored report to poison Lumumba. This command is speculated to have come from United States President Dwight Eisenhower. CIA chemist Sidney Gottlieb devised the toothpaste-like poison. This plan failed due to the conscience of CIA station chief Larry Devlin, who would not go through with this plan.
--In 1965: Joseph Mobutu, Chief of Staff of the Congo army, overthrew Joseph Kasavubu as President of the Congo.

In The Congo...

The Congo from 1955-1966
Prior to 1960, the Congo had been ruled by Belgium and its government. In May of 1960, the Mouvement National Congolais, led by Patrice Lumumba, won the parlimentary elections for the Congo. Patrice Lumumba was then appointed Prime Minister, and
Joseph Kasavubu of the Alliance des Bakongo party was elected President. On June 30, 1960 the Congo gained independence from Belgium under the name "Republic of Congo". Certain events led to major conflicts between President Kasavubu and Prime Minister Lumumba. These conflicts led to the dismissal of Prime Minister Lumumba on September 5, 1960. Joseph Mobutu, the chief of staff of Armee Nationale Congolaise, took advantage of this conflict between Lumumba and Kasavubu and gained military support to action action while the elected government was weak. He was financially supported by both the US and Belgium, and was therefore able to pay his soldiers and keep them loyal. On January 17, 1961 Katangen forces assassinated Patrice Lumumba. These Katangen forces were supported by the Belgian government because of their longing for copper and diamonds. The Katangan forces were also supported by the United State's CIA because of the US desire to remove leftist followers. During this chaotic time, a temporary government of College des Commissaires technicians took over the rule of the Congo.

The Congo from 2000-2007

In May of 1997, Laurent-Desire Kabila led a rebellion over the Mobutu Sese Seko government. Kabila was assassinated in 2001, and his son, Joseph Kabila, took over his Father's position and was named head of state. Joseph Kabila tried to end the First Congo War and signed a peace agreement in South Africa in 2002. Peace slowly came in late 2003 as the Transitional Government came into ruling. On July 30, 2006 the Congo held their first multi-party election since their 1960 Independence. The election was between Joseph Kabila and Jean-Pierre Bemba. The election caused a two day fight that began on August 20, 2006. 16 people were killed before the UN was able to take control of the city. The second round of elections was held on October 29, 2006, which caused even more rioting, ballot-burning, and overall chaos. Bemba's militants began to riot when Kabila was winning 58% to 42%. Bemba ordered his supporters to stop fighting and vowed to take his seat as official opposition leader.

The Judges: Moderator Discussion Questions

1) Do you think Orleanna married Nathan simply because her Aunt Tess made the comment: "You're a-feeding him anyways, child, why not go on and marry him if that's what he's after" (194). ?

2) Orleanna recalls good times in her and Nathan's relationship prior to his deployment to the war. Why do you think the war changed Nathan's personality so drastically?

3) Do you think Leah considers her Father a bakala mpandi (good strong man)?

4) Why is Leah so fascinated with Anatole?

5) Is Anatole some sort of metaphoric figure?

6) Why does Ruth May like Green Mamba snakes so much?

7) Why did the Price women view Brother Fowles as their possible escape from the Congo?

8) Other than pilot and faux-fiancée, what role does Eeben Axelroot play in this chapter?

9) How does Adah view her mother after the nsongonya?

10) Which do you think was more important to Nathan during the nsongonya: saving his family or praying for deliverance?

Literature Circle 1-The Revelation reflection

One topic that came up during the class discussion of The Revelation was the role Methuselah played throughout the book. Many people agreed that Methuselah was a metaphoric figure for the Price family. When Methuselah was set free by Nathan Price, he did not know what to do, or where to go to survive. Methuselah had been in captivity for so long that he forgot how to manage for himself. This could be a metaphor for the Price family who also cannot go home (even though they have the option too)because Nathan will not let his family leave the Congo until his mission is complete. The class also discussed the character of Nathan Price, the father and Reverend in the book. We all agreed that Nathan believes he is a legend in his own mind, and therefore does things, such as moving his family to the Congo, for the glory and recognition side that comes along with it. We also discussed Nathan's relationship with his wife Orleanna. The relationship is not in any way one of a loving, normal husband and wife. Nathan treats and talks to Orleanna as if she is one of his stupid, ignorant daughters instead of his wife. We all wondered why Orleanna remains with Nathan, and we think that this may be a reoccuring theme throughout the book. Leah Price was another topic that was discussed as a class. In The Revelation it seemed as though Leah, who in Genesis craved her Father's attention, is now seeming to find her own way in the Congo. She is no longer eagerly trying to please her Father, or even hang around him very much. Leah's friendship with Pascal, a little Congolese boy, proves that Leah is starting to find her own path and identity separate from her Father. Overall, I think this literature circle went okay. My small group was a bit awkward because no one really wanted to speak, but when we discussed Revelation as a class, the topics became more interesting. Hopefully next literature circle the small groups will be more talkative and continue to bring up good points.