In the novel The Poisonwood Bible, written by Barbara Kingsolver and published in 1999, follows the story of the Prices, a missionary family. They depart from Georgia in 1959 and head to the Congo, their expectations coming nowhere close to unforgiving African life. The mother and four daughters tell their stories first person of how they suffered under the fist of their legalistic, abusive father. The main portion of the book takes place in a village called Kilanga, where the patriarch, Nathan, is the new minister. The family experiences numerous embarrassments, due mostly to the father’s lack of cultural understanding and tolerance. Tragedy eventually strikes, and a daughter is lost to a poisonous snake bite. After this, the women of the family leave both the village and the preacher behind to embark on their own journeys. The last part of the novel covers their separate lives, with a focus on how Africa stuck with them.
In the beginning, matriarch Orleanna seems to be the most important character. She does the housework, takes care of the children, and cooks for the family. Soon, though, it becomes clear that her husband makes sure she has no voice. Her daughters see this, but they, too, are without voices. Rachel, the …show more content…
The people all suffer from different ailments or disabilities that they do not let hinder them. A woman with no legs still farms every day and collects food for her family. In a different sense, Orleanna loses hope for a few months and does not rise from bed, but eventually she gets back on her feet with a renewed sense of strength. Overall, The Poisonwood Bible is a compelling tale and well worth reading. It is a book that takes a lot of digestion and thought from the reader, each sentence carefully constructed to paint a vivid
In the beginning, matriarch Orleanna seems to be the most important character. She does the housework, takes care of the children, and cooks for the family. Soon, though, it becomes clear that her husband makes sure she has no voice. Her daughters see this, but they, too, are without voices. Rachel, the …show more content…
The people all suffer from different ailments or disabilities that they do not let hinder them. A woman with no legs still farms every day and collects food for her family. In a different sense, Orleanna loses hope for a few months and does not rise from bed, but eventually she gets back on her feet with a renewed sense of strength. Overall, The Poisonwood Bible is a compelling tale and well worth reading. It is a book that takes a lot of digestion and thought from the reader, each sentence carefully constructed to paint a vivid