"Believe this: the mistakes are part of the story. I am born of a man who believed he could tell nothing but the truth, while he set down for all time the Poisonwood Bible." -.
-Adah.
P.638, The Poisonwood Bible.
Why is there no narrative of Nathan Price? Quite simply, Nathan Price was the real author of the Poisonwood Bible, and exactly as Adah describes him he did not believe that he could speak anything but utter truth. Thus, he was ill suited to compose a narration. The Reverend Price, fiery Southern Baptist preacher that he was, lacked the ability to let things go. He was unable to accept something, deal with it, and move on. .
"The Reverend the sole survivor in a company of dead men who have marched along beside him all his life since then. No wonder he could not flee from the same jungle twice.".
-Adah.
P.491, The Poisonwood Bible.
The reason for the writing of this book is for a release. A catharsis which is so desperately needed by the women under Nathan Price's influence. Without this emotional purge, they could have never left the jungle of Kilongo. And each would have lost what they gained so costly. Freedom.
Orleanna Price, the principle character in the story, begins the narrative as well as presents herself as a focal point of the story. Her gains from the telling of this story are many. She is allowed to make her case, and present her defense. She knows that she is to be judged so she tells Nathan's story as her defense, and prosecution. Was it her fault that her youngest child died in the forsaken jungle of Kilongo? She leaves the reader to render the verdict. Was it her fault for marrying Nathan in the first place and for staying with him? She again leaves the reader to render the verdict. The telling of Nathan Price's story is her worst memory and her only lifeline into reality. Though she deeply wishes to forget it, she begs the forgiveness, the punishment, the freedom of judgment.
