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Themes In The Poisonwood Bible

1143 Words5 Pages

Stephen Alexander Smith
Ms Cassetta
Honors American Literature (D Set)
8 May 2017
Three Perspectives of God Facing adversity in life provides knowledge and life lessons that can be used to change and influence how one views religion. The Poisonwood Bible is a novel written by Barbara Kingsolver, portraying the life of the Price family, coming from Georgia to the Congo as a missionary family in 1959. Throughout the novel, Kingsolver takes the challenges and hardships faced by the characters in the Congo and shows how they change each character's individual outlook on life. These experiences intensify and transform the faith of a Baptist preacher Nathan Price, the previous Congolese missionary Brother Fowles, and one of Nathan's four daughter …show more content…

Nathan's view of religion causes him to be egotistical and arrogant, Adah's religion is a mixture of different components, while Brother Fowles finds true beauty in his religion. Nathan considers himself far more superior and intelligent than the Kilangans and as a result ignores their heritage and wisdom. While being introduced to the village people Nathan prays to God about the Africans commenting, "Nakedness,' Father repeated, 'and darkness of the soul! For we shall destroy this place where the loud clamor of the sinners is waxen great before the face of the Lord.'" (Kingsolver 27). Nathan displays his arrogance as he begins his relationship with the Kilangans by condemning everything about the village. He hurts the feelings of the villagers who welcomed him, making the women feel ashamed and cover their bodies. Nathan does not care about the individuals he hurts because in his mind he is saving their souls. Nathan believes that God chose him to carry out his holy plan and so everyone …show more content…

He is forever blinded thinking his way is the best and the only way that will work. The only thing Nathan and Adah share about religion is that both of their religions have been influenced by struggles in their lives and serve as the foundation for how they live. Adah incorporates the proven scientific knowledge to the principles of Christianity she finds justice in. Her religion is personally crafted for her and she can put her faith in it. The way Adah understands and interprets science is the same way Brother Fowles connects everything in the Congo to starting freedom the root of God. Brother Fowles is appreciative of all of God's creation and allows its beauty to fill him with emotions of empathy and love. He spreads these emotions to the Congolese, living out the ideals of his

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