Ignorance In The Poisonwood Bible

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In modern day, America faces constant problems of inequality, yet we are conditioned to have a notion of superiority to other countries with similar problems. This ultimately leads the American people to become more ignorant. Similarly, The Poisonwood Bible, a novel by Barbara Kingsolver, introduces characters that are forced to deal with their ignorance in the Congo as well as reflect on their inner self. The main theme Kingsolver touches upon is the idea of indifference and ignorance and whether or not it is part of the human conscience to escape.

Typically, Americans are not aware of the many atrocities that occur in other countries. Even when they recognize these unjust acts, they tend to look down on these poor countries in which we …show more content…
Possibly, in some cases, they realize their ignorance and other times they are completely oblivious to it. Nathan was oblivious to his ignorance that Orleanna states, “Nathan aimed to scorch a path as wide as Sherman's” (197). In contrast to Orleanna’s allusion, William T. Sherman led soldiers on a march from Atlanta, Georgia to Savannah and through this march they destroyed civilian property, infrastructure, and so forth. Their intentions may have been good as was Nathan’s but there was no regard to other people and their feelings. This shows his persistent need to bring religion into a different culture however when faced with the hurt his family endured in the depths of the Congo, he chose to think about his own selfish wants making him ignorant. The consequences of such ignorance from Rachel and Nathan Price as well as America are exceedingly powerful. One of the consequences being: history repeating itself. We are never fully able to learn from our hardships and lessons of life that we are more willing to let ignorance and indifference overcome our society than to be self-aware. Another result being, ignorance will weaken the impact on the world and the meaning of our existence which are destructive things. A single individual has the power to make the world a better place yet we abuse this power
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