Structuralism and Semiotics

For my literary lense, I was assigned Structuralism and Semiotics. Structuralists try to find the thought processes behind the written work, by examining the language itself that is used within the text. Structuralists believe language permeates all facets of modern society and culture and they try to break it down and see what knowledge base is necessary to understand the text.
In the previous night's reading, probably the most fascinating thing to look at through this lense is Adah. Adah's writing is sometimes quite literally backwards: "Emulp Der Eno" (185)., "Nevaeh Ni Seilf Fo Foorp Wen .Rehctacylf Esidarap" (137). Sometimes her writing isn't backwards with letters but just with words: "Walk to Learn. I and Path. Long one is Congo" (135). Adah loves all things symetrical with writing. She does not speak out loud, so writing is her voice and she loves symmetry and poetry in her writing. She even calls herself Ada because it is a proper palindrome. The perspective of this text is certainly one of a mind, inhibited by a rare disease.
      Another interesting part of the reading from last night through this lens is Nathan Price's actions. He himself claims to do the work of God, but on multiple occassions, he strikes his own family. To understand his actions, we must understand the mind of a white southern baptist as well as the stress of being in a foreign country with failures in conversion piling up. Nathan continues to be self-righteous and fraud, and appears one major crisis away from insanity. His stubborness goes against some of the Christian teachings as certainly does his lower view of the African people.