Character Representation of Christianity in Poisonwood Bible Essay Example

husband's desires and faces difficulty in supporting her children in the unforgiving African setting. "Perhaps I will even admit to the truth, that I arrived with the horsemen and witnessed the apocalypse, but I will continue to assert that I was merely an imprisoned observer."

The conqueror's wife is essentially a conquest herself (9). She reflects on her guilt for bringing her children to Africa, the United States' role in the Congo, and her own involvement in her child's death. Orleanna positions herself as someone connected to the guilty party, although she did not directly commit the crime. In fact, she may have even benefited from his wrongdoing.

"I stayed married to him because it was the only thing I could do every day" (8). Due to her submissive nature, she obediently follows her husband's lead, disregarding her own obligations. As Nathan's insanity becomes increasingly evident in the story and her children's lives appear more vulnerable, she strives to regain her independence and stand up against her husband's wishes. After the death of her youngest daughter Ruth May, she gains the courage to leave Nathan along with her remaining daughters.

She dedicates her entire life to fixating on her role in her daughter's demise. Adah is identical to Leah, except for her physical abnormality (being crippled, with the entirety of her left side paralyzed since birth). She has a pessimistic outlook on life, choosing to see things in reverse rather than looking ahead. She restrains herself, pretending to be an onlooker rather than actively participating.

After getting up with sharp grains embedded in her knees, Adah discovers that she no longer

believes in God (171). She silently rejects her father's religion and develops her own perspectives on the world by contemplating her surroundings. Although she still adheres to her father's expectations, she takes pleasure in creating palindromes of religious concepts that appear to have contradictory interpretations.

After coming back to America, Adah successfully overcomes her handicap and her cynicism lessens as she grows older. She discovers a religion that she believes in, which is science. At the end of the novel, she nostalgically reflects on her handicap and her unique perspective on the world. Leah undergoes the most significant transformation in the novel and symbolizes religion's struggle to adjust to evolving times through her personal growth.

At the start of the novel, she resembles her father and is committed to promoting Christianity in Africa. However, her reasons may stem more from seeking her father's love rather than a genuine faith. Her personal journey to regain balance commences when she becomes aware of the transformations her father has experienced in Africa.

"My father's faith resembles the bronze breastplate of God's foot soldiers, while our mother's faith is akin to a good cloth coat that doesn't quite fit right"(68). The narrator perceives her father as a changed person. When the family leaves their home as a result of the civil war, Leah decides to remain in Africa.

The protagonist concludes the novel by stating that she is like an "un-missionary" who starts her day by praying to be converted. She asks Africa for forgiveness and acknowledges its abundant mercy. Leah's admiration for her father is replaced by her newfound devotion to Africa, which drastically alters her

outlook on life. Nevertheless, she still maintains a steadfast belief in her own determination and conviction.

The Poisonwood Bible features four main characters who each hold distinct views on the Christian religion and faith. Nathan's stringent beliefs and refusal to accept other cultures ultimately lead to the failure of their Congo mission. Orleanna's unwavering loyalty to her husband results in her feeling guilty for her daughter's death.

Adah's rejection of both God and her father leads her to embrace her own worldview and value her uniqueness. Meanwhile, Leah's faith adapts to her family and the Congo, profoundly altering her perspective on the world (beginning with her father). Barbara Kingsolver's portrayal of the Bible reveals its potential impact on our lives based on individual beliefs.