Analysis Of A Poisonwood Bible By Barbara Kingsolver

A Poisonwood Bible

When describing Patrice Lumumba, Barbara Kingsolver uses complementary wording that makes the reader like him, or at least respect him. The Belgian doctor puts a cast on Ruth May’s arm on page 149 and calls Lumumba “the new soul of Africa”, which introduces Lumumba to the reader as a positive idea. When Leah sees Lumumba on pages 221-222, he’s described as “a thin, distinguished man” and that “when he stood to speak, everyone’s mouth shut... Even the birds seemed taken aback”. This portrayal makes him appear smart and scholarly and the reader is partial to him. His way of speaking is told to us by Leah to be “rising in such a way that heaven and anger get mingled together”, which presents the reader with Lumumba’s passion and how well-spoken he is.

Lumumba is presented as a victim in Orleanna’s point of view, where on pages 381-382 she says: “In their locked room, these men had put their heads together and proclaimed Patrice Lumumba a danger to the

The Belgian doctor says his crowds show up “to cheer on their Tata Lumumba”, and this use of ‘their’ is very important because, once again, it introduces Lumumba as a positive idea, this time by making it clear that those in Africa want Lumumba to lead them. Also on page 149, it’s said that “the man has such a way of moving a crowd” and on page 222 that “whenever he paused for breath, the people screamed and raised their arms” showing that he is well loved by those who want independence. Anatole, on page 275, tells Leah: “Lumumba is not eager to give away the store. His loyalty is with his countrymen. He believes in a unified Congo for the Congolese, and he knows that every Katanga diamond from the south can pay a teacher salary in Leopoldville or feed a village of Warega children in the north”, and this speech clearly portrays the passion and faith the Congo has in