Autumn Stevens

Queen Curmano
9 November 2014
Freshman English Honors
Poisonwood Bible Book IV Dialogue Journal
We did not believe in voodoo spirits, and
informed each other of that fact till we were
blue in the face. But still there was some dark
thing out there watching us from the forest
and coiling up under peoples beds at night,
and whether you call it fear or the dreaming of
snakes or false idolatry or what--its still
something. It doesnt care what prayers we
say at bedtime, or whether we admit we
believe in it. Does it believe in us, thats the
question (357-358).

Theres a certain amplification of the sisters

mindset toward religion in this phrase. I feel
as though it is the perspective I take on
powerful beings--not voodoo. I think that a
greater force organized all that is around us
and that there is a such thing as faith that you
cant argue with but its power is unknown
because [for some] it is based on faith. Who
has true control is the real question that
could be the theme of the entire book my
goodness, it could be the theme of the
human race

She was not baptized yet, he said. I looked Many points I would like to allude to:
up when he said this startled by such a

The Reverends ignorance

pathetically inadequate observation. Was that
shines through much too well. He still
really what mattered to him right now--the
resorts back to his religion even when it has
condition of Ruth Mays soul? Mother ignored
done him wrong so many times. I dont
him, but I studied his face in the bright
know if that is persistence, dedication, or
morning light. His blue eyes with their leftoblivion.
sided squint, weakened by the war, had a

The fact that Leah is judging

vacant look. His large reddish ears repelled
him both as a person and physically now is
me. My father was a simple, ugly man (368).
quite telling: shes come to hate every
aspect of her origin. I think she calls him
simple because of his unwillingness to go
beyond himself; his selfishness is that
simplicity?

I wrote a note to myself that

Leah and I are very similar to one another.
Not so much our religion standpoints or
situations, but our personalities and the way
we handle things: we enjoy learning (both
academic and morally), we wear pants
daily, we question many things, we are the
ones longing to learn how to shoot a bow
(figuratively speaking), and we speak in
similar words; I read her chapters with ease
and familiarity.

When Leah and the sisters are praying after

Ruth Mays death. I could not remotely
believe any Shepherd was leading me through
this dreadful valley, but the familiar words
stuffed my mouth like cotton, and it was some
relief to know, at least, that one sentence
would fall upon another. It was my only way
of knowing what to do (372).

Her faith is gone completely. But because

of the Reverends selfishness and ignorance,
she resorts to the only methods she knows. I
know for a fact that that is not how religion
was imposed on him its not fair at all.

Kingsolver, Barbara. The Poisonwood Bible: A Novel. New York: HarperPerennial, 1999. Print