In the Poisonwood Bible, western arrogance is emphasized throughout both the Price family and the Western countries through the actions they show toward the Congo.
At the start of the novel, all of the Prices hide their belongings in their clothes in order to have the necessities in the new country. These belongings have no real place in the Congo, where Betty Crocker cake mixes, a hand mirror, scissors, a thimble, pencils, and first aid supplies represent former world and stand out. These are “civilization’s evils” that the family felt would be needed the greatest. “The six pairs of underwear and cake mixes all commenced to be a considerable cross to bear” in a place where those belongings are not needed(Kingsolver 14-15). This shows ignorance on their part believing it possible to live in a bubble of the western world untouched by the African culture choosing instead to let Western Arrogance shine through.
When the Price family meets the Underdowns, Nathan is annoyed by them offering their help since …show more content…
In The Poisonwood Bible, Western Arrogance is shown mainly through Nathan Price. When arriving in the Congo Nathan is certain that he will be able to convert all the citizens to Christianity. He does not consider that the Congolese might already have a religion that they fully believe in. Another example is when America attempts to influence the newly independent Congo, only worsening the problem, due to their arrogance that even though they have no relationship with Africa, they should control it believing they are doing what is right. These Western countries believe that they are helping by interfering with Africa, when actually due to their Western Arrogance this ends up harming more than helping. One of the main times Western Arrogance proved this point was with the colonists and Native Americans. Even today there is still proof of how much Western Arrogance affects numerous people’s daily
At the start of the novel, all of the Prices hide their belongings in their clothes in order to have the necessities in the new country. These belongings have no real place in the Congo, where Betty Crocker cake mixes, a hand mirror, scissors, a thimble, pencils, and first aid supplies represent former world and stand out. These are “civilization’s evils” that the family felt would be needed the greatest. “The six pairs of underwear and cake mixes all commenced to be a considerable cross to bear” in a place where those belongings are not needed(Kingsolver 14-15). This shows ignorance on their part believing it possible to live in a bubble of the western world untouched by the African culture choosing instead to let Western Arrogance shine through.
When the Price family meets the Underdowns, Nathan is annoyed by them offering their help since …show more content…
In The Poisonwood Bible, Western Arrogance is shown mainly through Nathan Price. When arriving in the Congo Nathan is certain that he will be able to convert all the citizens to Christianity. He does not consider that the Congolese might already have a religion that they fully believe in. Another example is when America attempts to influence the newly independent Congo, only worsening the problem, due to their arrogance that even though they have no relationship with Africa, they should control it believing they are doing what is right. These Western countries believe that they are helping by interfering with Africa, when actually due to their Western Arrogance this ends up harming more than helping. One of the main times Western Arrogance proved this point was with the colonists and Native Americans. Even today there is still proof of how much Western Arrogance affects numerous people’s daily