“Let me claim that Africa and I kept company for a while and then parted ways as if we were both party to relations with a failed outcome. Or say I was afflicted with Africa like a bout of a rare disease from which I have not managed a full recovery.”
Analysis
In this quote, Barbara Kingsolver effectively conveys the deep impact that Africa has had on her life. By likening her experience with Africa to a failed relationship or a debilitating illness, she emphasizes the lasting effects of her time in Africa. This metaphorical language not only adds depth to Kingsolver's emotional connection to the continent, but also highlights the transformative power of her experience. Kingsolver's use of vivid imagery and comparison invites readers to reflect on their own intense relationships or encounters that have left a lasting mark on their lives.
Exploring the Complex Relationship: Africa and the Western Perspective
In this quote by Barbara Kingsolver, she reflects on her experience with Africa and the lasting impact it had on her. The quote highlights the enduring influence that Africa can have on individuals from the Western world, comparing it to a rare disease that leaves a lasting impression. This speaks to the enduring relevance of Africa and the complex relationships that exist between different cultures and societies.
Barbara Kingsolver on her relationship with Africa
"Let me claim that Africa and I kept company for a while and then parted ways as if we were both party to relations with a failed outcome. Or say I was afflicted with Africa like a bout of a rare disease from which I have not managed a full recovery." - Barbara Kingsolver
Reflection Questions:
In this quote by Barbara Kingsolver, the idea of a complex and perhaps tumultuous relationship with Africa is presented. As you reflect on this quote, consider the following questions:
- What do you think Kingsolver means when she says she was "afflicted with Africa"?
- How do you interpret the comparison of Africa to a "failed outcome" or a "rare disease"?
- Have you ever experienced a similar feeling of being deeply connected to a place or culture, only to feel estranged or disconnected from it later?
- How might this quote speak to larger themes of colonialism, identity, and belonging?
- In what ways can we reconcile conflicting feelings or experiences with a particular place or culture?
Similar quotes
“There's good news out of Africa. Not all of Africa. But from a large part of Africa that quietly, with little fanfare, is on the move. ('Emerging Africa', 2010)”
“I am not African because I was born in Africa but because Africa was born in me.”
“When I lived in South Africa, someone told me what the longest road in Africa is. It's not the road from Cairo to Capetown, it's the way from your head to your heart, and from there to the here and now.”
“If I know a song of Africa, of the giraffe and the African new moon lying on her back, of the plows in the fields and the sweaty faces of the coffee pickers, does Africa know a song of me? Will the air over the plain quiver with a color that I have had on, or the children invent a game in which my name is, or the full moon throw a shadow over the gravel of the drive that was like me, or will the eagles of the Ngong Hills look out for me?”
“I dream of an Africa which is in peace with itself.”