14 December 2005

First Class discussion of PWB.

The Poisonwood Tree - Does Nathan have the right to "change" these people? So, why does he do it?

• He should only be helping them in non-religious ways.
• But, he is a religious leader who has been sent by God, so this is his responsibility.
• he has the right to inform but not force them
• he is proving himself as more worthy in the eyes of God
• Sacrificing himself and his family for his own rewards - for God's approval
• By converting these people he, in the eyes of God, is doing the right thing - even if the people don't really want this.
• He is so wrapped up in his convictions he does not respect their "culture"
•     - he doesn't have the right to do this.
• He only wants to help them by saving them by turning them into "one of us" (civilize them)
• He believes that God rewards those who "do his work"
• He needs to understand that what is different is not necessarily wrong - he needs to respect them. because they are "civilized" in their minds.
• The church sent him there.

So, can he learn to see the world any differently that he does now? .... Chances are this will be the point of the book... So, moving on...

What gives him the impression that they need to be civilized?

• 54 - "The human body is a sight...comprehend the difference" G-thought this was an interesting quote (he is not sure why)
• He uses an interpretation of the bible as his rationale.
• But these people need help and Nathan has been taught that he needs to help them through religious means.
• But physically they are "calling" out for his help.

The first sentence on page 30 is an example of assonance - what is the effect, of this deliberate decision by Kingsolver, on you, the reader? What does it make you think? See? Hear?

• The sunrise is mocking them.

• This line causes you to stop - why does Kingsolver do this - and why does she give these lines to the character who is the "least likely" (Adah) to speak them? (look at page 32) "Next comes... much."

• I am the one who does not speak. She chooses not to speak (WHY?) "Our Father speaks for all of us."

• Now, look at the bottom of page 34. "I am prone" - keep reading to the end of the page!

• Is she afraid to speak? Is she afraid to recognize her limitations?

• Who is "blissful" in their ignorance? Because Adah is not ignorant. Nobody around her is worth her talking to them.

• Where is there evidence that she is afraid?

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• (It is Ok to use the word "I" - MEANING OWN YOUR THOUGHTS AND REACTIONS)

• FOR THE FIRST DISCUSSION - NOT BAD! YOU GUYS ARE TRYING!

-On page 8 Orleanna says, "I married a man who could never love me, probably. It would have trespassed on his devotion to all mankind." What evidence do you have that this is true? How would you characterize Nathan Price? HDYK?

-What is Poisonwood both literally and figuratively?

• he is trying to uproot the people in the same way that he is trying to uproot the Poison wood, and this uprooting causes pain and suffering in the same way that the sap does. (What specifically does the sap do? What does it affect? What does he say? 40-41 "Even his good right eye was swollen shut.. he bellowed when Mother tried to apply the salve. 'How did this curse come to me, when it is God's own will to cultivate the soil!'" )

-What are Nathan's expectations of: himself; his wife; his daughters; the Congolese; his God?