The Poisonwood Bible Critical Reading Portfolio Entry
The Poisonwood Bible Critical Reading Portfolio Entry
Section I: Significance of Title
The Poisonwood Bible is a book about the reactions that can be made with the burden of collective guilt; to be specific, to our complicit guilt as citizens of the United States for the misconduct by our nation in the Congo. The Poisonwood Bible is an allusion of an event that triggers the life of a family to be burden with guilt in the Congo. The title of the book is what describes the whole book. The Poisonwood Bible is an increased prosecution of Western colonialism and post-colonimalism, an expose of cultural arrogance and self-indulgence.
Section II: Author
The author of the Poisonwood Bible is Barbara Kingsolver. The Poisonwood Bible is a departure from Kingsolver’s previous fictional novels, not only in moving politics and to the foreground, but also in its setting. Kingsolver’s actually spent two years in the Republic of Congo while her parents served as health care officials. Her life in the Congo represents a theme that finds a prominent place in the Poisonwood Bible. Kingsolver actually spent her two years in the Congo at the same time as the characters in the book, around the 1960’s. While Kingsolver spent time in the Congo the United States had secretly sabotaged the Congo’s shot at independences by putting together a coup that resulted in the death of the elected President Patrice Lumumba. Infuriated by what she considered an overwhelming act; motivated by greed, Kingsolver then formed the ideas to write a novel exposing and dealing with this crime. It wasn’t until thirty years later that she finally felt ready, emotionally and professionally, to take on the project of discovering the question of how we can call ourselves United States Citizens, and still deal with our involvement in these horrifying events. Kingsolver worked long and hard to make the book reveal the truth about what happened because she was dedicated to what she felt was right.
Section III:
Section I: Significance of Title
The Poisonwood Bible is a book about the reactions that can be made with the burden of collective guilt; to be specific, to our complicit guilt as citizens of the United States for the misconduct by our nation in the Congo. The Poisonwood Bible is an allusion of an event that triggers the life of a family to be burden with guilt in the Congo. The title of the book is what describes the whole book. The Poisonwood Bible is an increased prosecution of Western colonialism and post-colonimalism, an expose of cultural arrogance and self-indulgence.
Section II: Author
The author of the Poisonwood Bible is Barbara Kingsolver. The Poisonwood Bible is a departure from Kingsolver’s previous fictional novels, not only in moving politics and to the foreground, but also in its setting. Kingsolver’s actually spent two years in the Republic of Congo while her parents served as health care officials. Her life in the Congo represents a theme that finds a prominent place in the Poisonwood Bible. Kingsolver actually spent her two years in the Congo at the same time as the characters in the book, around the 1960’s. While Kingsolver spent time in the Congo the United States had secretly sabotaged the Congo’s shot at independences by putting together a coup that resulted in the death of the elected President Patrice Lumumba. Infuriated by what she considered an overwhelming act; motivated by greed, Kingsolver then formed the ideas to write a novel exposing and dealing with this crime. It wasn’t until thirty years later that she finally felt ready, emotionally and professionally, to take on the project of discovering the question of how we can call ourselves United States Citizens, and still deal with our involvement in these horrifying events. Kingsolver worked long and hard to make the book reveal the truth about what happened because she was dedicated to what she felt was right.
Section III: