Perspective on Africa

      The three books we've read that take place in Africa have all had very different perspectives and opinions on the culture and landscape in Africa. 
      Heart of Darkness definitely characterizes Africa as an otherworldly place and basically describes the Africans as savage animals. Despite taking place in Africa, there are no significant characters who are people of color. I don't even think there were really any African characters who had speaking parts. The book did not really describe African culture whatsoever. Marlow views the Africans as animals and believes that any feeling of camaraderie towards them is "ugly". His descriptions of the landscape are beautiful, but he basically characterizes Africa as a primitive place that has not yet been "improved" by Western culture. Not only are there no significant African characters in Heart of Darkness, there are also virtually no female characters. The view we get of Africa from Heart of Darkness is extremely one dimensional. Marlow is the only narrator and he makes no effort to describe African culture. He is disdainful of it. 
      The audience definitely gets a lot more detail about African culture and customs from Things Fall Apart. The book primarily follows Okonkwo, who is an African man. His thoughts and beliefs give us a very extreme view of Umuofian beliefs. However, Achebe does include thoughts of other characters who have differing views on traditions. The African characters in Things Fall Apart are complex and have very different views on the world. The omniscient narration makes it easier to get into the heads of multiple characters. However, despite the fact that this book gives a lot more information of African culture, it is noteworthy that the female characters are practically nonexistent. Also, there are only two named white characters, and only one of them is partially developed. That's not necessarily a bad thing, though, because African voices have been kept out of literature for so long, that it is important to have those voices heard.
      The Poisonwood Bible has the most varied characters. There are white characters that are well developed, and there are also African characters who are well developed. There are white antagonists as well as African antagonists. The story is narrated through the voices of five different women who all have different views of the culture around them. Leah obviously connects with and embraces the African culture more than her sisters. Since the characters are unfamiliar with the culture, the audience can learn about the culture with them. Anatole, Nelson, and many of the other African characters are kind, complex characters with their own histories, hopes, and fears.