The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver Book Analysis

While humans may choose to believe that their identity is under their own jurisdiction, internal control can oftentimes be an illusion granted by the consequences of individuality. A core principle of human nature is that humans have a tendency to be influenced by the world surrounding them. Whether this can be attributed to the environment, expectations from others, or any number of other examples, there are a multitude of guiding factors that people seemingly have little to no control over. These determinants in life can alter perspective, and ultimately, one’s future. The effect of external influences on one’s own belief system is shown in Barbara Kingsolver’s The Poisonwood Bible through her explanation of how the environment expedites the Price children’s autonomy from their parents and the description of members of the family’s exposure to different people. 

The growing awareness of life that comes with emotional and mental maturity is reflected through Kingsolver’s representation of the children’s increasing independence in the Congo due to the effects of foreign environment. When introduced to Adah, one of the twins that has hemiplegia, she characterizes herself as “a lame gallimaufry” (Kingsolver 34). However, she faces many challenges in the Congo and ultimately reveals that she “believed her own life was precious” (Kingsolver 306) when she is trampled during the ant infestation. At this moment, she comes to a realization about the value of her own life when her mother fails to save her. Adah now knows that she needs to be independent and that her parents are not always going to offer the help that she needs. At her most desperate and helpless point, she understands that she wants to be alive and makes an effort to stay that way. Furthermore, her growth in maturity is visible throughout the book as her environment forced her to become aware of how she feels about herself. Moreover, the youngest daughter Ruth May is arguably the most affected by the environment in a completely different regard. Her life in the Congo is characterized by sickness, and eventually, her own death. Her maturity can be viewed in a different light than Adah’s, as hers came with accepting the possibility of her own death. During her sickness, she shows this by proclaiming “if I die I will disappear and I know where I’ll come back. I’ll be right up there in the tree, same color, same everything. I will look down on you. But you won’t see me” (Kingsolver 273). While some may argue that Ruth May’s youthful mind shows that she did not mature, her acceptance of her death in her sickly state demonstrated a sort of maturity. She even contemplates the afterlife, showing the depth of her growth by comparing her spirit following death to that of a green mamba snake. Furthermore, her subjection to an environment not dominated by Christianity and prejudice allowed her to socialize with people different from her. After her death, the Congolese children “kept up their soft, steady chant for a long time in the pouring rain” (Kingsolver 375) of a phrase from a game she played with them earlier in the novel. This imagery illustrates how there was an unspoken bond between her and the Congolese children, one which she would likely not have pursued before the family went to the Congo, shown by her previous explanation that “colored children… Their day for the zoo is Thursday. That’s in the Bible” (Kingsolver 20). Her Christian surroundings caused her to believe something that is quite clearly not in the Bible, correlating injustice to her family’s religion and viewing it as completely acceptable. Therefore, her eventual friendship with the children of the Congo shows her development into a less judgemental person, just looking for friends without the weight of prejudice that was instilled by Nathan’s preaching and American culture in this time period. Therefore, not only did Ruth May’s environment affect her outlook, but so did the parental figures in the family she was born into.

The people allowed into one’s life can ultimately change an individual's way of thinking and approaching things. Leah demonstrates an enormous alteration in perspective as she is exposed to an unfamiliar way of living. In the beginning, she strives for her father’s approval and tries to be as alike to Nathan as possible. Orleanna illustrates her as “an underpaid waitress hoping for the top” (Kingsolver 98) in the way that she follows him around. However, the introduction of new people in her life, most notably Anatole, shows her a new kind of life that she becomes fascinated by. Throughout the novel, her curiosity and desire for knowledge and to see other cultures can be seen, shown by her continuous time spent with Anatole to learn about the Congolese way of life. Her maturity is astounding, as she is able to develop herself and become much more independent from her parents. Her interpretation of her father as “a simple, ugly man” (Kingsolver 368) with pathetic observations in Bel and the Serpent truly juxtaposes her initial idolization to her disgust of her father after Ruth May’s death due to truly comprehending what the world can offer her. After popping the bubble that she had been encapsulated by her entire life, Leah was able to explore the world and discover her passion for cultural knowledge. Another way of analyzing how the actions of people affect others is through Orleanna Price. Her approach to life was altered by her confinement to the role of a wife and mother. She explains herself during the story that takes place as “one of those women who clamp their mouths shut and wave the flag as their nation rolls off to conquer another in way” (Kingsolver 89), demonstrating how these relationships restrained her. Especially in this time period, when it was understood that it is the responsibility of the women to be a housewife and caretaker, it is obvious that these stereotypes trapped Orleanna in a way. Furthermore, she describes her younger self as “bursting utterly with happiness” then claims she “encountered [her] own spirit less and less” (Kingsolver 193, 200) after marrying Nathan following his WWII trauma. This solidifies the idea that having Nathan in her life confined her to a particular role and changed the path of her life forever, eventually leading her to travel the Congo with their four children, and go home with only three. Her free-spirit that she carried throughout her youth was poisoned in her marriage, altering her belief system forever. Similarly, her initial happiness was destroyed by an external factor in her life, Nathan Price. However, some may argue that she had control of whether Nathan remained in her life. While this may be true, her description of her life story shows that she did not realize the falsity of his sweet language until after they wed, and it may not have been plausible for her to get divorced at the time. With no money and kids on the way, it is understandable as to why Orleanna stayed with Nathan Price. Overall, people have an unbelievable ability to impact the lives of others and alter their mental state permanently.

The Poisonwood Bible beautifully illustrates the relationship between external factors and their impact on one’s life. Barbara Kingsolver’s use of description, language, and imagery all create a complex perspective on what determines the future of a person. A new environment can spark unprecedented maturity, unknown culture can lead to a path of self-discovery, and a fateful meeting with one person can change the course of anyone’s life forever. While there is some limited internal control over personal development, the circumstances that surround us determine who we are.