Poisonwood Bible

Multiple narration is a tedious way for an author to write a novel, but in the end provides a rewarding result. It is tedious work simply because, the author must pretend to take on the thoughts, feelings, and idiosyncrasies of multiple people. To be able to do novel using multiple narration justice, the author must hone in on exactly how they want each character to be read and thought of by the reader. In “The Poisonwood Bible,” Barbara Kingsolver uses five narrators, a tremendous task, to tell the tale of the Price family in Africa.
If writing a story is compared to painting a picture for the reader, then multiple narration is similar to an authors ability to add whole new shades of color or detail to the picture. In an interview with Harper Collins publishing, Kingsolver discusses her use of five narrators. She said that she chose five narrators “because it was necessary to the theme of this novel.” She explains that “the four sisters and Orleanna represent five different philosophical positions.” To be able to do justice to the story for the reader, she might have felt that no one narrator could portray the spectrum of emotions and viewpoints she wanted to represent.
One example of Kingsolver using her narrators was when the village was run through by ants. All four daughters have a short narration describing their experience in the event. Leah describes the horror she felt, “I stared hard at the ballooning pink reflection, believing this might be the last thing I would look upon before my eyes were chewed out of my skull. Though I didn’t deserve it, I wanted to rise to heaven remembering something of beauty from the Congo. (300)” Rachel says, “I thought I had died and gone to hell. But it’s worse than that- I’m alive in hell. While everybody was running from the house, I cast around in a frenzy trying to think of what to save. (301)” Even the differences in these two sister’s narratives are visible. Leah wanted to remember the Congo fondly when she thought she would die, whereas Rachel was contemplating which material item she should save from her house. Ruth May thinks of advice she received about dying. “Nelson says to think of a good place to go, so when it comes time to die I won’t, I’ll disappear and go to that place. (303)” Even though she is young, Ruth May still thinks about dying. Adah was left behind by her mother, who chose to carry Ruth May. Adah looks back on that night and says, “That night marks my life’s dark center, the moment when growing up ended and the long slope toward death began. (306)” All four girls went through the same traumatic event, and each of their thoughts can be picked out from one another.
Multiple narration is an interesting tool in writing. When five characters share the spotlight in an authors work, the author must work to make each narrator authentic and unique. Barbara Kingsolver’s final word on her choice of five narrators was that “this novel is asking, basically, “What did we do to Africa and how do we feel about it?” It’s a huge question, and I’d be insulting my readers to offer only one answer.”
Sources:
“Author Interview: Barbara Kingsolver.” Poisonwood Bible: Fall 2008 Reading Group. Library Thing. 17 Sep. 2008.
Kingsolver, Barbara. The Poisonwood Bible. New York: HarperCollins, 1998.

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