Erin Tidsworth

AP Literature and Composition

D. Weathersbee
20 November 2013
Multinarrative Perspective in The Poisonwood Bible
"The Poisonwood Bible" by Barbara Kingsolver is a novel intriguingly narrated
from ve different perspectives. The rst person narrations lack complete views of the
story line, but one can easily piece together the entire plot using the alternating
viewpoints. Interestingly enough, Kingsolver intentionally selects female members of the
Price family to narrate, thus characterizing Nathan Price, the father, through the eyes of
his wife and daughters, whom he constantly degrades and represses. Kingsolver's
choice in perspectives is not only rare, but supplementary to the plot line and
characterization in conveying her theme of equality. Throughout her writing, it is obvious
that the author believes no one should be mistreated or persecuted because of physical
attributes or variations in their appearance that are uncontrollable.
Feminism, in the truest sense of the word, is based on the concepts of equality
and freedom- abstractions that the mid 20th century world of "The Poisonwood Bible"
was far from actualizing. Nathan Prices demeaning attitude towards the female
members of his family may be interpreted by the reader as repugnant and as a
representation of the infractions and infringements of the western world and corrupt
individuals on the social and political freedoms of the African communities mentioned in
Kingsolvers novel. The belief that no matter where one lives, how one is raised, or
where one stands in society, equality should be freely given and should not be
overpowered by the oppressive assumption that roles are given to one based on their
gender, race, or other physical attributes seems absurdly incontrovertible, yet
Kingsolvers novel revolves around a family whose paternal gure is portrayed as a
misogynistic xenophobe and whose matriarch is seen shown in constant domesticated
submission chiey because of their appointed gender roles. Kingsolver efciently
coveys her theme of inequality through the multinarrative perspectives of the ve Price
women, purposefully excluding the viewpoints of Nathan Price.
Because Mr. Price does not receive an opportunity to communicate his thoughts
and intentions, he is characterized solely by the actions observed by the Price women,
and because Mr. Price ruthlessly belittles his family members, his characterization as a
father and a husband is not admirable.
The titles of each of the books in the novel are either books of the bible or biblical
references, which is ironic because Nathan's purpose for bringing his family to the
Congo is religious evangelism. "Genesis" is the title of the rst section of Kingsolver's
novel, and the title of the rst book of the bible- the placement and names of the books
resemble one another. Likewise, "Exodus" is a biblical book in which a large group of
people journey out of a dangerous area, which is representative of the Price's journey
out of the Congo- thus the reason for the name of the fth book. The connection
between "The Poisonwood Bible"'s book "Revelation" and the biblical book "Revelation"
is less obvious, because most often when "Revelation" is referenced, it signies the end
of something because it is the last book of the bible and depicts an apocalyptic end, but
it is the title of the second book in Kingsolver's novel. The name is used for the second
book instead of the nal book because it signies "The beginning of the end" for the
Price family. These references to the bible are also ironic because the concepts of
equality and feminism were seen as absurd and unrealistic in the time period in which it
was written
Kingsolver's chosen book titles and the exclusion of Nathan Price's narrative
perspective both contribute to the theme or message that is implied by only allowing
feminine viewpoints of misogynistic antagonists and by referencing the Bible, a text
written in a time period in which feminism was virtually nonexistent.