Zachary McCall - Mrs.

Carter Narrative Piece 3/17/2014

Even sweet intentions can become sour endeavors. Nathan Price was called by God to
go down to the Congo and spread Gods word and make them believers. It was a task that had
ever so sweet intentions. But by Barbara Kingsolvers deployment of the 5 narrative views from
the 5 women in the story, we figure out that in fact these sweet intentions leave a sour taste.
Peoples minds have to fill in the blanks of what the 5 narrators left out, Nathan being
the biggest void in the story. With the 5 women giving their points of views on Nathan, people
will judge him off of what they read. Judging is how peoples natural instinct work. By using the
5 different narrators, Kingsolver has the readers perception making the interpretations of
Nathan. This can affect the theme because if the reader interprets Nathan as the 5 women give
their impressions then it becomes obvious that the sweet intentions of spreading Gods word
can become a sour endeavor.
Another aspect Barbara Kingsolver employees is the way she tells the story. By splitting
the book into 7 different books, the reader must think when reading. The novel goes over a 30
year period where the family spends its time in the Congo for the majority of the novel. By doing
this the reader can feel the wear and tear of what the family is going through with Nathan
leading them.
The sweetest things in the world can always turn sour anytime. Barbara Kingsolver uses
the 5 narrators and splitting the novel up into 7 books to really show the effect of the Congo and
Nathan on the 5 women. The readers mind takes care of filling in the gaps for who Nathan is.