Adam Nirella Carter APLit 18 March 2014 Five Voices Similar to an epistolary novel, Barbara Kingsolver's The Poisonwood

Bible molds together multiple points of view in order to tell the story. The shifting narrative allows for a variety of perspectives, depth of the storyline, and foreshadowing from characters. Each individual voice heard is distinctly different, thus allowing for different personalities to interpret events differently. For example, Ruth May's youth and innocence is a filter for the story, just as much as Rachel's shallow ignorance. Age is not the only factor, however. Leah and Adah are twins, but both have radically different perspectives. Leah is objective, a leader, and begins the story by desperately seeking the affections of her father. Adah, in contrast, has a more poetic view of the world, and comments more about her surroundings than actual participation in events. The many personalities allow for multiple reactions to the same event, as well as multiple characters in which to relate to. The fractured storytelling method also allows for a deeper setting and movement of thought. Each character's portion slightly overlaps other perspectives, in order for the same moment to be experienced by different people. Each character, in turn, then can describe the scene differently with different details. The culmination of these details creates a more immersive setting. Also, the differing personalities reflect differently on

the moment. Ruth May would be more likely to pick up details from a child's point of view, while Rachel would focus on the more aesthetic 'pretty' details. Foreshadowing is also possible in this form of writing; some characters may see events before others, setting up dramatic irony. Some characters may also exist in different times. For instance, Orleanna's chapters are narrated from the future, looking back on the experience. This sets a crucial tone of foreboding as Orleanna recollects on the time that is narrated from the other character's perspectives. Without this foreshadowing, as well as the deepened setting and shifting perspectives, the intensity of the novel would be lost. The meaning of the story would be left open to general interpretation, instead of getting filtered by each character's emotions. The setting of the Congo would be described mor flatly, instead of having the dynamics of many descriptions. Lastly, the tone and dramatic irony would be lost without the subtle foreshadowing involved when the narrator shifts in time.