I can't remember the stories of Rachel and Leah in the Bible but I'm sure Kingsolver will do something with them - either reflect or refract with her own novel. Perhaps it's interesting to think what Kingsolver is trying to say about the Bible itself and its capability to reflect our lives (for better or for worse)? If we live by the Bible, are we destined to fates similar to the Bible? Do we bring upon us the sort of tragedy and salvation that makes up its stories?
The ant in that passage is unlike the ants that infested the village, yet it's very similar to the villagers themselves and their symbiotic relationship to nature. They are so entrenched in the world around them, so in tune to their reality. I just remembered one thing: how one of the girls realised that they weren't the first white people the villagers had seend, how Brother Fowles was that person (who also happened to easily slip into their culture) and I suppose that revelation casts a shadow over their perceptions up until then - how they completely misunderstood the people.
Back to the quote: somewhere in The Judges they talk about the village's politics and how a decision only is reached when 100% agree, how a majority of votes - say 55% - doesn't mean a victory because they'd still be concerned by the 45% who disagreed. In that sense, there is no chief or ruler because final decisions can only be made by the entirety.
no subject
The ant in that passage is unlike the ants that infested the village, yet it's very similar to the villagers themselves and their symbiotic relationship to nature. They are so entrenched in the world around them, so in tune to their reality. I just remembered one thing: how one of the girls realised that they weren't the first white people the villagers had seend, how Brother Fowles was that person (who also happened to easily slip into their culture) and I suppose that revelation casts a shadow over their perceptions up until then - how they completely misunderstood the people.
Back to the quote: somewhere in The Judges they talk about the village's politics and how a decision only is reached when 100% agree, how a majority of votes - say 55% - doesn't mean a victory because they'd still be concerned by the 45% who disagreed. In that sense, there is no chief or ruler because final decisions can only be made by the entirety.