AP Essay 1987 #2

The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver is the compelling story of a family’s physical and emotional journey through the unforgiving African Congo. Interlaced into the family’s journalistic encounters are political under tones of a Congolese rebellion against the unfair Belgian and American rule. In this political allegory, we see western insensitivity and blatant cruelty through Kingsolver’s bleak depiction of the average struggling Congo citizen. It is clear that Kingsolver, is disgusted by American and Belgian greed and wishes to bring justice to a situation that was kept quiet for so long. She conveys a call to action and emotional appeals to the audience through strong metaphors and symbolic personification.

 Metaphors are prevalent in the text even from the very beginning. When Reverend Nathan Price arrives in the Congo he is set on converting the Congolese people to Christianity. Even though it is clear within the first few days that his forceful, offensive tactics will not heed success he fails to compromise with the Congolese. Nathan feels as though these people are so beneath him their opinions are the equivalent of a child’s and worth even less. His arrogant, demeaning attitude is a metaphorical representation of the West’s attitude toward Africa. Kingsolver employs this extended metaphor to show her audience how terrible the West treated the Congo. Later on in the novel the youngest of the Price daughters dies due to a snake bite. Ruth May’s mother, Orleanna Price, is consumed with guilt for standing by and letting her husband keep them in the dangerous Congo. This is another metaphor for the guilt the American people felt when America’s cruelty was brought to light. This metaphor serves as a reminder that although faulted, the West does recognize their offensives and regret and guilt plagues some.

 Personification also plays a large role in influencing the audience. Insensitive, vain, materialistic Rachel Price personifies the West as a whole. Her selfish actions and egotistic attitude are similar to the way America and Belgium were acting. In contrast, Leah Price serves as the Congo’s representation acting unselfishly and living on a very small budget for the later part of her life. She embodies the life of a true Congolese and the audience is consumed with compassion when she depicts her struggles with Anatole. Kingsolver uses Leah’s journey as an emotional appeal to resonate feelings of empathy towards Leah and ultimately all of the Congo.

Kingsolver not only entertains an audience but also educates them about previous wrongdoings between nations. She sheds light on the injustice of the Belgian and American dealings with the Congolese and makes it clear that this type of cruelty in disgusting and unacceptable. She conveys a call to action and emotional pleas through different metaphors and extended personification.