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Gender Roles In The Poisonwood Bible

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Recommended: Treatment of women in literature

Set deep in the dense forests of Congo and in the heart of African culture, The Poisonwood Bible presents a story of the Price family and their revelations on confronting a different culture. In The Poisonwood Bible, Barbara Kingsolver presents the theme that women must overcome the naturally forming barriers that are created as a result of societal norms. The female characters of The Poisonwood Bible are oppressed by not only the rules of society but the chauvinistic and supercilious ways of the male, Nathan Price. Orleanna and Leah demonstrate the importance of making life altering choices in order to redeem themselves. Kingsolver demonstrates that by overcoming the barriers of societal and personal expectations, women are able to be empowered. Kingsolver's novel focuses on Nathan Price's …show more content…

Nathan Price is the dominant man within his family, who views himself as a self-righteous man. In reality, he is a tyrannical character that Kingsolver presents as an antagonist to draw attention to gender inequality, and injustice presented to women. The Poisonwood Bible is narrated by five female members of the Price family, but never narrated by the man in the Price family. Why doesn't Barbara Kingsolver give a voice to Nathan Price? Nathan Price is never given a voice in The Poisonwood Bible because Kingsolver is giving a chance for the oppressed to voice their thoughts instead of voicing what Nathan Price imposes on them. The dominance that Nathan holds over his family is left unchallenged because of the fear that both Orleanna and her daughters retain. Whenever Nathan's daughters are disobedient or troublesome he forces them to write a verse from the bible one-hundred times. If Nathan is in an unpleasant mood he is disrespectful towards his family members; he speaks to his family with a tone like a "dog peed on the carpet."This represents his

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