The Poisonwood Bible Language Analysis

In Kingsolver's The Poisonwood Bible, religion is key. The family dynamic - at least superficially - revolves around the father's mission to bring the teachings of Baptism and the Bible to Kilanga, a village in the Congo. It becomes clear that this mission is really only the father's: the Price women in the novel, although originally somewhat excited about this experience, are not nearly as passionate as Nathan, the actual preacher of the religion, the active missionary. While the women are not as devoted to the mission's goals as Nathan, only Adah articulates why; only Adah discusses why she does not believe in God, and why she disagrees with the Western world's intent on converting African people to a religion which acts, in Leah's words,

Adah respects and seems to almost envy the "cynicism" (172) of the Kilanga language: she works with Nelson to learn the intricacies of the language, especially the way intonations can completely change the meaning of what one is trying to say. Ironically, she studies and appreciates this important knowledge even though she does not speak; Nathan, the preacher, the one speaking to the villagers about God, and attempting to convert them, does not have the time of day nor the interest in learning these intricacies. Adah says "So much depends on the tone of voice... Our Baptist ears from Georgia will never understand the difference" (175), emphasizing the vitality of intonation as well as inferring that Nathan's intense piety keeps him from understanding that vitality. His "Baptist" ears are what's keeping him from actually reaching the Kilanga people. One of Nathan's goals in the village is to baptize the people. The Kilanga word for baptism is "batiza" (214), and Nathan pronounces it to mean "to terrify" (214), yet wonders why the villagers refuse to get in the river. Adah claims that "He is not of a mind to receive certain news" (214), meaning that if someone told him of his error, he would likely scoff and pay no mind. Even after he learns of the alligator-river-child incident, he still insists on baptizing the Kilanga people, which shows his complete disregard for their concerns or values. He does not want to help them or understand them; he wants them to bend to his self-righteous will. Adah, while she does not speak, takes the time to learn and understand the intricacies of the Kilanga language, and therefore is able to communicate accurately with the people there; Nathan, the person whose words affect this mission's goal the most, does not even