This content is from Wikipedia. We do not consider this content professional or citable. Please use your discretion when relying on it. GradeSaver also offers a professionally written study guide by one of our staff editors.

Major themes

Kingsolver focuses her novel on her view that most of the tragic violence and hunger experienced in The Congo can be traced to foreign influences. Kingsolver expands the novel into more than a historical critique of the colonialization of Africa by creating parallels between the political unrest in The Congo and the situation of the Price family girls as they are abused by Nathan, who vehemently believes himself an instrument of the Christian God. He symbolizes both the European exploitation of Africa and, by extension, the self-righteous dominion of the strong over anyone or anything too weak to prevent it.^[1] The Poisonwood Bible offers Kingsolver's perspectives on the imbalance of power, resources, and justice that exists in the Congo and elsewhere. On another level, the book may be read as a stab against patriarchy which may take forms in religious or racial bigotry. The tragic consequences of living with the diehard messianic but close-minded character of the missionary husband/father, Nathan Price, are highlighted in Kingsolver's work.

Another major theme of the novel is the theme of American ethnocentrism—the belief that Americans are culturally superior. The American ethnocentrism of the government leads to a strong belief in American intervention in world affairs. Rev. Price personifies this attitude of American ethnocentrism, which is also alluded to in the overthrow of Patrice Lumumba and the subsequent support of kleptocrat Mobutu.