In which narrative is a stolen Bible an important element in the colonial age?
One notable narrative in which a stolen Bible plays a crucial role during the colonial age is the novel "The Poisonwood Bible" by Barbara Kingsolver. This novel follows the Price family, evangelical missionaries from Georgia, as they venture to the Belgian Congo in the late 1950s.
The stolen Bible becomes significant when the youngest daughter, Ruth May, accidentally takes it from a native village they visited during a baptism ceremony. The Price family believes that the Bible holds immense importance as a religious artifact and considers its theft a grave offense. However, the stolen Bible ultimately becomes a symbol of power dynamics, cultural clashes, and the destructive consequences of colonialism.
As the narrative progresses, the stolen Bible serves as a catalyst for various events, sparking tensions between the Price family and the Congolese villagers. The Bible becomes both a representation of the European colonial project, forced conversion, and cultural imperialism. The conflict surrounding the Bible symbolizes the clash between Western ideals and African traditions, illustrating the complex power dynamics between the colonizers and the colonized.
Overall, the stolen Bible in "The Poisonwood Bible" becomes a significant element that adds depth and complexity to the narrative, shedding light on the colonial era's devastating impact on both individuals and communities.
How was that bible used?
In "The Poisonwood Bible," the stolen Bible was initially taken by Ruth May Price, the youngest daughter of the Price family, during a baptism ceremony in a native village in the Belgian Congo. The family considered the Bible a sacred religious artifact and believed its theft to be a significant offense.
The Bible was intended to be used as a tool for evangelization by the Price family, who were evangelical missionaries. It was meant to serve as their guide in converting the Congolese villagers to Christianity. However, the stolen Bible ends up being a source of conflict and tension rather than a medium for spreading their faith.
As the narrative unfolds, the stolen Bible becomes a symbol of cultural imperialism and oppression. It is viewed by the Congolese villagers as a representation of the Price family's attempts to impose their foreign beliefs and traditions on the local community. The Bible is both coveted and despised by different characters in the story, illustrating the complex dynamics of power and resistance in the colonial context.
Ultimately, the stolen Bible does not serve its intended purpose of converting the Congolese villagers. Instead, it becomes a symbol of the destructive consequences of colonialism and the clash between Western ideals and African traditions. The use, or misuse, of the stolen Bible highlights the deep divisions and misunderstandings between the colonizers and the colonized and adds depth and symbolism to the narrative.