Ready Reference Treatise: The Poisonwood Bible

First of all, the title “The Poisonwood Bible” draws the attention of the readers. It is not only appropriate but also indispensable.

The biblical tradition of male dominance over female is ultimately challenged and denounced by the Price women. The father, Nathan Price, continues to follow the belief that the Africans are living in darkness. One tempts to ask a very simple question that how a devout Christian can immediately declare that the people who have been following their traditions for ages are living in darkness.

It is true that some of the beliefs of the natives are superstitious, but the same can be said about the people who follow Christianity. When Reverend Price’s daughter dies after a snake bite, he says that she was not baptized. Does it mean that she would have survived had she been baptized?

Likewise, the novel raises various challenging questions.