Character Analysis Of Barbara Kingsolver's 'The Poisonwood Bible'

“Being different isn’t a bad thing. It just means you're brave enough to be yourself ” (Luna Lovegood). The PoisonWood Bible introduces a character by the name of Adah Price. This character symbolizes difference, bravery and passion. Barbara Kingsolver uses these characteristics to develop the character.

In the book, “The Poisonwood Bible” there is a rather interesting character, named Nathan Price. The tone used to describe Nathan Price in the book is always related to his cruelty, oppressiveness and the devious way he acts throughout the book. The tone used by his wife and daughters throughout the novel produces the feeling that he is the main Antagonist in the book. Nathan is also extremely abusive against his wife and daughters. He is an extremist, a coward and a terrible preacher. His lack of knowledge about God and more importantly, life in general, cause everyone in the novel to despise him, especially his family. Nathan Price was so desperate about preaching, he decided to move from the United States to the Congo. This is ironic

Opinions, self-assurance, and knowledge – these aspects of one’s character constantly develop throughout one’s lifetime. In some cases, opinions shift from one end of the spectrum to the opposite end of the spectrum, while the knowledge gained from the world guides one to become more self-assured. In The Poisonwood Bible, Leah, the daughter of a passionate preacher, gains several unfamiliar experiences after moving to Congo such as the peoples’ way of life and insight on what the Africans think about her family. Throughout The Poisonwood Bible, Kingsolver thoughtfully uses textual features such as figurative language, syntax, and tone to show how Leah’s character gradually progresses from a blinded worshiper who wants nothing more than to follow in her father’s footsteps to an individualistic young woman who strives to live a life without her father’s influence. To begin the novel, Kingsolver establishes Leah’s beliefs by utilizing different forms of figurative language.

Jem and Scout, throughout “To Kill A Mockingbird,” learn to consider things from other people’s perspectives. Atticus, Jem and Scout’s father, says “you never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view – until you climb into his skin and walk around in” (Lee 39). They learn this through experiences with their neighbor Boo Radley as they mature beyond their years. At the beginning of the novel, Jem and Scout make fun of Boo and assume that all of the rumors going around about him are true. However, later on in the story the children grow an admiration for Boo and learn to understand him. As they matured, Jem and Scout naturally learned many life lessons of appreciation, respect, and courage

The novel The Poisonwood Bible begins with a narrative directive that grasps the reader’s attention. It suggests everything that is about to occur can only be witnessed by the people of Africa. Portraying a hint that something is going to happen to their family that leads them to ruins. I believe the “you” Orleanna is speaking to is the daughter that she lost in Congo as she introduces herself as “Southern Baptist by marriage, mother of children living and dead” (Kingsolver 7). This reveals the biggest disaster that occured during their time in Congo. Orleanna speaks from a time in the future to further enhance the feeling of guilt. She feels that she helped her husband accomplish his ungodly actions while failing to properly take care of her children. Kingsolver uses traits to differentiate the voices of each sister, which allows the reader to single handedly pick them out in a crowd if needed. Ruth May is exhibited as a child by the manipulation of grammar to make her sound more childlike. Kingsolver uses high sophistication to develop Adah’s voice making her one of the most intelligent of the four sisters which is ironic considering her decision to remain silent. Leah is blunt and straightforward reflecting her true nature. Lasly Rachel reflects her snobbish and conceited attitude through her short sentences. Adah Price’s voice is the most compelling to me for her large span of vocabulary and simply her injury. Reading her chapters are the most interesting based off of

In literature, passion and responsibility often work against each other. Passions like love may conflict with a person’s beliefs or responsibilities. In The Poisonwood Bible, Leah has both passion and responsibilities. She is supposed to do what her parents expect of her. Her love, however, go against what she is expected to do. It love goes against what her father and tradition wanted. Her love is conflicting, and affects her and The Poisonwood Bible in many ways.

In Barbara Kingsolver’s novel, Poisonwood Bible, she used the transition between narrators which shed light on the perspective of each member of the Price family. The Price family ventures from Georgia to the Congo led by their father, a Baptist Minister. Throughout their journey each narrator dramatically changes. The families influence on the Congo is parallel to western influence in the Congo.

Nor Hell a fury, like a woman scorned.”-William Congreve, The Mourning Bride, Act III, Sc.IIX, 1697

Often, the things people consider to be valuable have the ability to influence them. For instance, one who values their family is likely to base important life decisions on the impact they would have on his or her relatives. People who value money are known to engage in risky behaviors, such as gambling, in hopes of making a profit. The books we read can have this same power. Books that have value, or merit, are not only able to entertain but also leave the reader thinking about the issues the book discusses long after they've set it down. These pieces of literature leave a lasting impression on their audience for both their artistic storytelling and the impacting message they leave behind. Barbara Kingsolver's novel, The Poisonwood Bible displays

because of the issues she is facing at that moment in time. After she finally decides that

much like college advocates, for the best selling story of a missionary family to be interpreted

The poisonwood Bible is a book about identity, growing up and family. The main characters throughout the book grow and learn to become new people through new relationships they develop while in the Congo as well as through struggles they face while in the Congo. Barbara Kingsolver uses the literary elements of plot, the characters, and point of view to develop the characterization and relationships between the Price family in the Poisonwood Bible.

Imagine you are a lawyer tasked with an impossible case, and everybody in your community is against you, but still there is a shred of hope you cling to. What might that be you ask? That to which you cling are your morals. In To Kill a Mockingbird Atticus Finch had been given the Tom Robinson case, where a black man was convicted of raping a white woman. As a single father of two children, he continues to reinforce his values throughout the trial and during his daunting task of raising his children. In To Kill A Mockingbird what Harper Lee suggests about the nature of morals is that you should try to stand up for what you believe in even if people oppose or reject your ideals. Even when faced with an insurmountable opposition you should stand up for your morals because in the end if your don't follow your beliefs you are just contributing to the problem. We should try to create a voice for what we believe in and impress that upon the next generation so they can continue to exercise their beliefs to make the world a better place.

It is true that we sacrifice certain things for what we care about most, which reveals our

From a land of poverty, rises a country of evil. The Price family stumbles upon a plethora of misfortunes upon the first month of their arrival to the Congo. What is meant to be a mission trip instantly turns into an experience of uncertainty. Leah, a member of the Price family, even states “Without that rock of certainty underfoot, the Congo is a fearsome place to have to sink or swim” (Kingsolver 244). Throughout The Poisonwood Bible, written by Barbara Kingsolver, the Republic of Congo owns the residents; with it’s revenge for betrayal of traditions, the multiple extremities within it, and the inability for further modernization, the Congo inevitably controls everything within it.