Character Analysis
A Map of the World
Anatole is the orphan-turned-schoolteacher of Kilanga village who translates Nathan Price's sermons and later marries his daughter, Leah. He has an assortment of unexplained fine scars criss-crossing his face, a "map," as Orleanna says, of "all the sorrows" in his life (2.2.52). Since Anatole's life is devoted to the Congo, it's no surprise that it involves a lot of sorrow—and Leah's does too, once she marries him.
Before she marries him, Leah makes him a globe because he's never seen the world outside of the Congo. While she broadens his horizons, he narrows hers by giving her focus and purpose. Seems like a good match, right? It is—and it isn't. No matter how much they love each other (and we assume they do), they don't always see eye to eye. Leah says, "The griefs he and I carry are so different. Mine are white, no doubt, and American. [...] He and the rest of Congo secretly hold a national day of mourning for lost Independence" (5.6.14).
In a way, Anatole has two spouses—Leah and the Congo. Although they end up having four children (the same number of children Leah's mother had), Anatole ends up spending almost all of his time devoted to his cause. He takes various jobs, works hard for Congolese independence, and spends time in jail twice for treason. That's great and all, but we can't help feeling a lot of sympathy for Leah, stuck raising four boys essentially by herself. In some ways, you could see their relationship as a copy of Leah's mom's. Like Nathan Price, Anatole is married to what he sees as his life's purpose, while Leah—just like her mom—stays home to take care of the kids.
At least Anatole's cause is something Leah believes in.