The Poisonwood Bible---Week 4

As The Poisonwood Bible progresses, each girl in the novel continues to make individual characteristic transformations. Throughout these changes, Kingsolver continues the motif of American’s being conceited.

Kingsolver also uses different scenarios to depict American’s as greedy throughout the novel. At the beginning of this week’s reading, Rachel is out on a walk with her “fiancé” Axelroot. During their conversation Rachel is concerned about whether or not her family will be going home soon, and Axelroot responded, “You still think you’re the epicenter of a continent don’t you, Princess?” Within the microcosm of this novel, Rachel represents the materialistic people in the world. Although the statement by Axelroot is directly stated to Rachel, it is indirectly meant for the United States as a whole. The majority of people living in the United States get caught up in all the material goods that they own and then forget about other people and their needs. When we overlook other people’s needs, it is easy to think that the world revolves around us. Kingsolver brings to light this problem in our society by using Rachel to play the role of the selfish, materialistic citizen. After reading this part I questioned whether Rachel would ever begin to change her lifestyle and understand the negative impact her father is having on the Congolese people. Later on in the reading at a village meeting, Reverend Price tries to take over the meeting implying that his way is the best. During this meeting it is made obvious to Rachel that her father resents the kind of person that his daughter, Leah, has become. Rachel states, “It’s just lucky for Father he never had any sons. He might have been forced to respect them.” Through this statement, we can see a transformation in Rachel as she now sees that the way her father treats her, her family and the Congolese people is not appropriate. Since Rachel has had this transformation in the way she views her father, will she stand up to him, or let him continue to act this way?

Another display of American’s thinking that their ways are better than other peoples is when the Congolese people have an election during the church service about whether or not to accept Jesus Christ. Reverend Price gets upset and says that they should have this election at a different time and place because that is how it is done in America. Tat Ndu says in response to Reverend Price’s outrage, “Then you may do so in America. I will not say you are unwise.” Mr. Price, still upset, yells, “Man, you understand nothing. You are applying the logic of children in a display of childish ignorance.” When Tata Ndu says that he will not call Reverend Price “unwise,” he displays an acceptance of all people and their different beliefs. When Reverend Price rebuttals, he uses repetition of the words “childish” and “children” to describe Tata Ndu’s thinking, which is ironic because Tata Ndu is accepting of other people and their beliefs, but Mr. Price is not. In reality, it is Mr. Price who has a childish manner of handling situations and other people. After this week’s reading, I am concerned that there will be no one able to help Mr. Price in changing his lifestyle. Will one of the Congolese people change him? Or will it be his own daughter’s, or no one at all?