Carrying Their Experiences

      Each sister carries different values and experiences into and out of Africa. Their different personalities and different beliefs make each of their narratives unique and interesting to read. Each character also evolves in a different way and also deals with hardships differently. Their time in the Congo has clearly effected each sister in a very different way.

      Ruth May has less time as a narrator for a couple different reasons. First of all, since her voice is the youngest, and therefore, the least sophisticated, Kingsolver seems to use her narrative sparingly. Also, since Ruth May dies halfway through the book, she has significantly less time to narrate than her sisters. However, when she does narrate, Ruth May's innocence and naivety are clearly shown through the way she views things. She has a very simple view of the way things are. She believes that if someone does something bad, God will punish them. Basically, she believes whatever people tell her. She doesn't really evolve as a character because she dies so young, but the way people view her changes. Her sisters didn't really take much notice of her before her death, but afterwards, they were deeply affected.

      Adah is very skeptical of religion from the beginning. She doesn't believe in God and doesn't have much faith in her family either. Because she views herself as an outsider, she doesn't really seem to connect to her siblings or her parents. Africa has clearly had an effect on her and the way she views the world as well as her family. When leaving Africa, she is literally separated from everyone in her family except her mother. Adah and Orleanna become much closer after leaving together, but, at least to Adah, it doesn't seem like Orleanna fully understands her. Adah's becoming a doctor and studying parasitology seem to be things she decided on while in the Congo. 

        Leah undergoes the most dramatic transformation of the sisters. She begins the novel as a loyal daughter who continually vies for her father's approval despite his constant dismissal of her. She studies the Bible and would do anything for her father. However, as they spend time in the Congo, Leah comes to realize that bad things can happen to good, faithful people. Leah also realizes that her father is incredibly selfish and does not make good decisions for his family. By marrying Anatole and making the decision to live in Africa, Leah fully adopts the African lifestyle and abandons her American roots. She is very deeply affected by Ruth May's death because she feels very responsible for it. She carries that guilt with her for the rest of the novel. 

      Rachel does undergo a transformation, but it almost seems to be for the worse. She doesn't really care much for religion or Africa, and wants to go home. Her vanity and lack of interest as well as her attitude make her a stereotypical teenager, but she also proves herself to be smart and resourceful. As much as Rachel tries to make it seem like Africa hasn't had an affect on her, it is clear that it has. She claims to hate Africa, but never ends up bringing herself to leave. She moves from the Congo to South Africa, where she is surrounded by many white people and ends up becoming pretty racist, but she does not return to America. This is because she wouldn't be able to fit back into her old life there. She would no longer be in control. 

      Each sister's personality and view of religion is unique. They carry their experiences and deal with them in different ways.