Cover

The cover of the novel is bright orange with a yellow circle as a sun and a silhouette of a tall tree. Orange is a color often used to represent autumn or the transition from summer to autumn. In this case, orange symbolizes change. The Price’s transition from America to Africa, from bellies full to bellies empty, from unity to separation. The yellow sun represents the African belief system not in a certain God, but in His creations. The sun allows for life, a very precious gift in the Congo, and thus something to be worshipped. Lastly, the tree. The tree is a very special symbol in “The Poisonwood Bible” as it is the narrator’s point of view. Before Ruth May dies, she says, “If I die I will disappear and I know where I’ll come back. I’ll be right up there in the tree, same color, same everything. I will look down on you. But you won’t see me.” (273). Therefore, the tree represents the main character and protagonist’s safety and intentional invisibility. The cover overall signifies the difficult transition to African life, the merging of religious beliefs, and the not necessarily happy, but satisfying end to the novel.