Injustice In The Poisonwood Bible

In Barbara Kingsolver’s work, The Poisonwood Bible, Nathan Price is a character which responds to injustice in some significant way. Out of all the other characters, Nathan is the one who responds the most to an act of injustice by going on a campaign halfway around the world to somehow repay his obligation to God. He plans to do this by spreading Christianity, or at least his version of Christianity, to the native people of the Congo. The whole reason for him doing this is that he believes being wounded and leaving battle right before the rest of his company dies is an act of injustice and feels as if though he should have died there with his men. Nathan feels like he is a failure and is guilty for not dying with his brothers on the battlefield.

He believes he is serving justice and doing the right thing but in reality he is carrying out his own form of justice. Nathan believes that he doesn’t have to be compassionate or caring for the Congolese as long as he is spreading the word of God. He uses this ideology to justify his action and to drive himself on his quest. This relates to the poem. “A White Man’s Burden” by Rudyard Kipling because Nathan and Kipling both believe they are doing what they have to do. They feel like it is their duty to “take care” of the uncivilized people of under developed countries, but in reality the native people don’t want their help. If he really wants to help people and spread God’s word with good intentions he would take notes from his foil, Brother Fowles. Brother Fowles basically does everything right that Nathan does wrong. For example, unlike with Nathan the native people actually like Brother Fowles and his family. On the other hand the Congolese want to get rid of the Prices. Nathan isn’t very effective in his teaching because he comes at problems head on with an iron fist instead of being understanding, compassionate, and caring for the Congolese. In return, the Congolese reject Christianity and fall back on their own religion. One of the main Congolese that rejects Nathan’s search for justice is the chief of the village, Tata Ndu. "Tata Ndu feels that bringing the Christian word to these people is leading them to corrupt ways." (Kingsolver 129) This shows that not everybody believes that Christianity is so great. In Nathan’s head Christianity brings justice to the Congo but to the Congolese, Christianity only brings more injustice to them. Nevertheless Nathan’s ignores their thoughts and beliefs and continues to try to force Christianity on