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 omniscient views of the
story line, but one may easily piece together the plot using the alternating viewpoints.
Interestingly enough, Kingsolver intentionally selects only female members of the Price
family to narrate, thus characterizing Nathan Price, the father, through the eyes of his
wife and daughters. Kingsolver's choice in perspectives is not only rare, but
supplementary to the plot line and instrumental in conveying her theme of equality.
Through her writing, it's 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 society 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 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 shown in constant domesticated submission- chiey because of their
appointed gender roles. Kingsolver efciently coveys her theme of inequality through
the multi-narrative 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 neither admirable nor desirable.
The titles of each of the books in the novel are named after either books of the
bible or are 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 the bible 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.