Premium Essay

Enlightenment In The Poisonwood Bible

Submitted By
Words 4025
Pages 17
In Book 1, Kingsolver summarizes the beginning phase of the Price’s mission in the Congo to spread the word of God to the Kilanga tribes despite their reluctance. As Nathan Price forms the foundations of his religious work and aims to have complete control over the Congolese and the way they live their life, the section conforms with the quote and the title, Genesis. In Book 2, the quote is applicable to this section of the text in that Anatole urges Nathan and the family to leave the Congo because of the emerging revolution that will take place. However, Nathan refuses to hear Anatole out, especially since he keeps insinuating that his religion is corrupting Kilanga and its people. Nathan instead blocks out all noise and opposition, not hearing …show more content…
The Poisonwood Bible is definitely a universal parable of enlightenment rather than a profoundly American parable of Enlightenment or a story about the Congo. Although the five narratives within this novel are from the perspective of Americans, the messages that transpire are themes that circulate in various cultures despite the difference in location. Like people before them and after them, the Prices go through a series of issues within the family and outside the family that result in tremendous changes for the future. The problems that arise within the Congo itself, illustrate the struggle of independence. The five girls eventually learn to let go of the past in order to create a better and brighter future for themselves. By escaping the destructive and newly independent Congo, the girls enlighten themselves about the world and the deeper issues that exist. The various scenes of corruption, greed, selfishness, stand the test of time and are symbols seen throughout the world. This novel is a collective result of multiple problems that emerge on the interior and exterior of a society and epitomize the journey of a family realizing that in order to enlighten their world, they must forgive and forget a past of

Similar Documents

Premium Essay

Poisonwood Bible Analysis

...Looking at literature that’s based off post-colonialism, it’s hard to find a point of view that is unbiased and lacking western Orientalism that taints writings about less civilized cultures. Two books paint both sides of the equation: Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart and Barbara Kingsolver’s The Poisonwood Bible. In both novels, the author depicts a character going through both an internal and external struggle dealing with exile. The authors conclude in different variations that it’s after the alienation, or exile, of a character that lets black African Orientalism to cause change, not in the character’s enlightenment, but to change them into a sacrificial character for others’ enrichment. In these novels, it reveals how Africa faces...

Words: 1052 - Pages: 5

Premium Essay

Managing Cultura Differences

...MANAGING CULTURAL DIFFERENCES SIXTHEDITION MANAGING CULTURAL DIFFERENCES SERIES Managing Cultural Differences: Global Leadership Strategies for the 21 st Century, Sixth Edition Philip R. Harris, Ph.D., Robert T. Moran, Ph.D., Sarah V. Moran, M.A. Managing Cultural Diversity in Technical Professions Lionel Laroche, Ph.D Uniting North American Business—NAFTA Best Practices Jeffrey D. Abbot and Robert T. Moran, Ph.D. Eurodiversity: A Business Guide to Managing Differences George Simons, D.M. Global Strategic Planning: Cultural Perspectives for Profit and Non-Profit Organizations Marios I. Katsioulodes Ph.D. Competing Globally: Mastering Cross-Cultural Management and Negotiations Farid Elashmawi, Ph.D. Succeeding in Business in Eastern and Central Europe—A Guide to Cultures, Markets, and Practices Woodrow H. Sears, Ed.D. and Audrone Tamulionyte-Lentz, M.S. Intercultural Services: A Worldwide Buyer’s Guide and Sourcebook Gary M. Wederspahn, M.A. SIXTH EDITION MANAGING CULTURAL DIFFERENCES GLOBAL LEADERSHIP STRATEGIES ST FOR THE 21 CENTURY 25TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION PHILIP R. HARRIS, PH.D. ROBERT T. MORAN, PH.D. SARAH V. MORAN, M.A. JUDITH SOCCORSY Editorial Coordinator Elsevier Butterworth–Heinemann 200 Wheeler Road, Burlington, MA 01803, USA Linacre House, Jordan Hill, Oxford OX2 8DP, UK Copyright © 2004, Philip R. Harris, Robert T. Moran, Sarah V. Moran. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a...

Words: 229816 - Pages: 920