Essay #1

Honestly, I wasn't really doing the best job of paying attention while reading The Poisonwood Bible, so I decided to write on a different book on the list you gave:



Ivan was truly torn from his family in a not so delightful way when he was taken to the gulag in fabulous Siberia. he was essentially exiled from his home and anyone he knew when he was taken. It’s strange that during his stay he was able to so quickly adapt, like many of the other prison mates, to the life of the prisoner. 
During his stay, Ivan had to adapt to survive after he was so rudely taken from his home in Russia. He knew, like the other prisoners, that there was really no chance that he was going to be leaving any earlier than the next ten years. so, after this realization, he knew that he had to change morals. There was always a dull, solemn feeling surrounding all the prisoners, and they all had the idea of helping only themselves and the rest of their “gang,” or work group. Ivan’s train of thought shifted to that of a loving husband and father missing his family to that of one looking out for his buddies and trying to cheat the guards. 
Ivan had always been a hard worker, much like his father. born and raised a carpenter, he knew that the quicker of work he did, the greater respect and pay he gained. even though he missed his family and hated the gulag, he still never betrayed his old work ethic. He worked hard, and when he realised that things were not as they should be, he tried to blame mistakes on others. even though each day is greuling, he still manages to survive.
Essentially, when one is taken from its home, He is lost, confused, and angry. Ivan probably felt all these emotions at first, but after those subsided, and true realization set in, Ivan must've been hit with an astounding level of sadness and regret that is never experienced by most.
Exile has always been used throughout history because of its effectiveness in killing the spirit. The concept of it is even used in small ways today, for example when one is banned from a certain store, city, state, country. the idea that someone is sent away and never allowed to return is very strong to think about, and I doubt that that will change anytime soon