Post 32: "Bel and the Serpent": Playing the Devil's Advocate

The focal character of "The Poisonwood Bible" so far has been Nathan. Although his intentions are well intended, his method of trying to spread Christianity are unorthodox. By this I do not only mean that he tries to force religion on everybody without understanding their culture as Brother Fowles does, but also that he is willing to push aside his family's feelings for his own sake (and it is for his sake, since the reason he wants to baptize everybody in Kilanga is to wash himself of his "sins", if you will, as he is trying to baptize more people than men in his company who were killed). Even as his own daughter, Ruth May, was killed, after a short period of mourning and silence on his part, he was back out there baptizing children in the rain: "'The Lord spoke to the common people gathered at the well,' he said at last, in his old booming voice that allowed no corner for doubt" (373). This quote signifies how little pain he evidently felt from her death. To me, he is by far the worst preacher I've ever seen. However, playing the devil's advocate, I will try to prove that he is the best preacher in the world.

Now, some may say that being indifferent to your own child's death shows how little you cared about that child, and also how little regret you feel about coming to Kilanga is horrible since that was the sole reason that Ruth May was killed. However, I argue that that makes him the best preacher ever. The reason which I base this controversial stand on is that Nathan is so in touch with God that he realizes if God did not choose to protect her from that snake, good riddance! It's best that we be rid of a sinner in our family, Nathan would think. Also, relating this concept to a movie, "A Walk to Remember," when Jamie, Landon's newly wedded wife passes away, he states, "Her love is like the wind: I cannot see it but I can feel it." Perhaps Nathan thinks the same way about Ruth May, that she was finally freed from this world of sin. In this way, he is the most selfless preacher in the world, since he is willing to give up his child, trusting that God has a greater purpose for her.

You may argue that he is completely throwing aside his family's wanting to leave Kilanga and only caring about his own work. That is completely correct, for he knows that his family compared to the new, better, God influenced lives of those in Kilanga are much more important than his own family.

Hats off to Nathan, a man who truly understands what God wants him to do.