One family’s missionary trip has enlighted many individuals on the violence and misogyny within colonization better than any textbook ever has. In “The Poisonwood Bible” author Barbara Kingsolver uses an abundance of literary devices to convey her character’s thoughts and emotions upon the cultural ruin taking place in Congo, Africa. A novel solely told through women, Kingsolver allows readers insight on a feminist perspective on how fear drives human actions and reactions resulting in a renouncing of self. Through point of view and symbolism, Kingsolver truly lets us in the minds of her characters. The most interesting characteristic of the novel “The Poisonwood Bible” is that it is entirely told through the narrative of the five Price girls. …show more content…
Although Nathan never gets his own chapter, readers are given a window to his true nature through his daughters and wife. Nathan was so consumed with the mission of influencing the Congolese with his Baptist beliefs that he neglected the feeling of empathy when Ruth May died, ““She wasn’t baptized yet” he said” (Kingsolver 368). Leah Price prevailed in defining herself and her meaning in this world. Leah, the twin of Adah, was a true to life preacher’s daughter in every aspect, if Nathan needed her “Leah in her earnest way helped him scout around” or when given “The Verse” she already had them memorized and was more than ready to copy more of the bible (Kingsolver 32,59). A change in her behavior did not occur until chapter Judges where Leah does not “crave heaven and to be my father’s favorite” and recognizes her father’s mistakes “If his decision to keep us here in the Congo wasn’t right, then what else might he be wrong about?” (Kingsolver 66, 244). Later Leah revolts from Nathan openly unlike her mother, and continues in her learning of hunting and marries a native man. Leah takes her perfect preacher’s daughter image and destroys it, as she grows she understands the value of the Congolese, family, death and the force of