Poisonwood Bible Quote Analysis1

Siddhant Nambiar

QUOTE ANALYSIS #1 “Here, bodily damage is more or less compared to be a by-product of living, not a disgrace.” (Adah, Pg. 72) For this quote Adah is the narrator and the speaker. She is talking about how she knows many women in Kilanga are greatly disfigured but nobody makes fun of them for it. This quote shows that Adah is somewhat happier in Kilanga because they accept her for what she is, not how she looks. I think the author is saying that socially speaking, the Congo is a lot more developed compared to what America is; they are more accepting of handicaps. It is ironic because in the book, The Congo; a place which is very poor, controlled by other nations and is deprived of their own rights, teaches moral values to a place like America who is well developed, a super power and the one of the top most nations.

“But must they look on us as freak of nature?” (Ruth May, Pg. 52) For this quote, Ruth May is the narrator and Orleanna is quoted. Ruth May says this while talking about her father’s strong domination on the females in his house. He disregards females and thinks that they are beneath all mankind. The ladies in the family are unhappy with his behavior but are not brave enough to have their say against him. Orleanna says this line in disagreement and hatred against Nathan’s opinion. This situation is ironic because as much as she disagrees with Nathan, she still does not have the guts to stand up against Nathan and save her daughters from his rage. Thus Orleanna saying this in Nathan’s absence is pointless.