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Book Summary: The Poisonwood Bible

1219 Words5 Pages

Hugo Ramos
Miss Given
World English Honors
February 5 2018
English Response Ultimately The Poisonwood Bible is postulating that every story possesses various viewpoints, which are all vital to understanding the entire story. Each individual perspective is cluttered with contrasting beliefs, emotions, and opinions creating distinct attitudes for those telling the story. This approach is clearly showcased within the novel itself by having five diverse narrators throughout the plot. Collectively the characters tell one story but narrate distinct accounts and details influenced by their personalities. Kingsolver 's tells a communal narrative through the voices of Ruth May, Leah, Adah, Rachel, and Orleanna Price. Her use of multiple narrators …show more content…

Her accounts of the Congo glorify the experience even illustrating her long to be a component of the unique culture. In stark contrast, her sister Rachel was more than devastated by her family 's decision to travel to the Congo, scathing the culture any time she could. They are both exemplifying Adah 's belief that they are each " trying to invent [their own] version of the story. All human odes are essentially one," which is displayed through the contradicting stories of the different storytellers. Their odes are collectively discussing their experience of the trip to the Congo, but all of them tell uniquely their own version.
The Poisonwood Bible’s final chapter could hold a response for the first because it covers all the unknowns in the beginning. The opening of the book is presented by Orleanna, discussing in her guilt-stricken voice the idea of guilt and how to live with it. It mostly revolves around the event of Ruth May 's death. Orleanna can do nothing but blame herself for the death one of her own because it was avoidable. On the other hand, the last chapter is likely narrated by Ruth May herself after death because it resembles her. The narrator proceeds to tell her mom that she has …show more content…

Throughout the novel, Nathan 's conceit towards the native people of the Congo is exhibited by his consistent disapproval of their culture. His nature and character easily resembles that nature of the west when they would send missionaries to Africa. Christians believed it was their moral duty to convert African people to Christianity. They would often push aside their cultural beliefs and make them convert. This is showcased by Nathan’s character because he could not let the idea go of having people not destined to God. It was arrogant of the West to believe that their Christian religion is better than than Africa’s customs even though knowing nothing about them. Overall, the Poisonwood Bible can be seen as a political and religious allegory because Nathan’s character portrays the West’s constant arrogant behavior of wanting Africa to convert to Christianity with no question. I agree with Kingsolver’s conclusion that everyone is complicit because with every decision made there is always a negative side. Everyone is always involved with doing something wrong. If no one did anything wrong, no good things would occur. All the characters have their own beliefs, intentions, and opinions; therefore they are all complicit in their own way. The obvious person is Nathan Price because he kept the family longer than they should have stayed and overall

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