Edward Said described exile in two ways. First as "...The unhealable rift forced between a human being and a native place," and second as a "potent, even enriching" experience. In The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver the entire Price family got to experience exile. Choosing to leave Georgia and venture to the Congo in Africa creating a rift between each individual member and the native land, customs, and culture they once knew. This is very apparent in the character of Leah Price.
Leah Price is merely fourteen years old when her family makes the move to Kilanga. This can be taken as a form of exile. Through this she is alienated from her homeland and everything she ever knew. There are barriers in language, culture and customs with the native people, and probably most importantly, religion. Her father, Nathan, is so adamant to force his views on the native people he just digs a deeper trench and sense of separation between his family and the people of the Congo.
The exile from her homeland can also be seen in Said's point of view as especially "enriching" for Leah. Through being separated from everything she once knew Leah is forced to experience the new and scary elements of a brand new culture and people. Being completely taken away from society and situations you are comfortable in truly tests you as a person and Leah was able to grow tremendously. Though initially there is of course tension mainly from the father's harsh persistence in Christianity, Leah is able to incorporate herself in to this new society. It shows a sense of bravery and independence not previously seen in Leah that she was able to go out and find herself despite the persistence of her father viewing the Congolese as lesser people. Once so dedicated to her father and his views she shows tremendous growth that might never have developed in Georgia. She realizes that maybe her father's views of God are not necessarily what she believes to be true which is a realization that may have been non-existent had it not been for her being cut off from her homeland. She is able to open her mind and experience the hardships people go through she could not have possibly fathomed had it not been for being "exiled". Leah also suffers a cut off between herself and her father. By being taken out of her homeland and away from places where his views can be thrust upon her Leah is enlightened to so much more of the world and is essentially disillusioned with a religion she once believed wholeheartedly. Though this does cause a true rift in the relationship between her and her father, Leah was truly able to grow as a person in mind and spirit.
Leah Price had an uphill battle with being cut off from her home. As Said stated it can be a time of complete alienation or enrichment. Leah embodies this statement by fighting through some of the initial turmoil and developing tremendously as a person in a way that wouldn't have been possible without this severe displacement from her home.
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