The Poisonwood Bible: Sins

Sins 
The way each of the characters portrays one of the Seven Deadly Sins was played a prominent role in holding my interest in this novel. This portrayal enhanced each character by giving them a stronger base of emotion. For example, Nathan Price exemplified Lust quite strongly throughout the novel.  Lust is a physiological force producing intense wanting for an object or circumstance fulfilling the emotion. His overwhelming desire to convert the people of the Congo consumed him, causing him to forget all those around him. Kingsglover made an interesting choice to have the one character who appears on the outside to be righteous and devout represent a mortal sin. This choice appears to more completely reveal Nathan's character and communicate the notion that even those who stand for good are not always right. In fact, they can be something far from it. By attaching a sin to the characters, Kingsolver is able to impart more about them to the reader in a way that relates back to her overarching theme of Christianity. It's also ironic to write a book about a missionary family and have that family be the opposite of everything for which they are supposed to stand.  They are not the saviors, but rather the invaders. When viewed from outside their own self-serving perspective, they are not holy, but rather sinful. 

Comments

  1. NegiAPlitSeptember 14, 2018 at 8:43 PM

    Nick, your comparison between Nathan and the Deadly Sin of Lust is very interesting. I find it intriguing that Nathan seems to channel his overwhelming guilt from surviving the war as well as his permanent fear of cowardice into the lustful monstrosity that he becomes. His lust for spreading Baptism and his "Poisonwood Bible" throughout the Congo seemingly disguises his underlying, internal burden. This burden stems from his fear that he will not be saved after death as a result of his cowardice in the war. Nathan translates the fear into a lust for salvation by forcing Christianity upon the people of Kilanga. Your connection to the Seven Deadly Sins is very thoughtful. One thing that I would have hoped to hear more of is what sins you would characterize the rest of the family members as, Ruth May and Adah especially.

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