All families have conflicts, and the Price family is no exception. Within the story there is an overriding conflict regarding the Price women‘s opposition to the move to Africa. Beyond this, Nathan has many other conflicts with each of his daughters. Leah and her father had a very different relationship than the other three Price daughters. Leah is the only daughter that wholeheartedly supports her father completely. As the story moves on she is faced with the harsh realities of daily life in the Congo, and begins to see her Fathers faults. She soon wants to be her own person, and not be controlled by her father. The major parent/child conflict arises when Nathan does not recognize his daughter’s needs and desires. This parent/child conflict between Leah and Nathan in Barbara Kingsolver’s novel, The Poisonwood Bible contributes to the meaning of the story by pointing out that Nathan’s lack self awareness and devoid of guilt is the root of the conflict.
There are many conflicts between Nathan and Leah as the story progresses, but the most predominate conflict deals with Leah’s desire for independence. The conflict emerges due to Nathans inability to understand Leah’s needs. His self absorption and lack of self awareness leaves him with the lack of being able to feel guilt.
Leah practically worships her father in the opening chapters of the book, as shown in this quote when she is describing her father to the reader, “Not everyone can see it, but my father’s heart is as large as his hands. And his wisdom is great.” (42). She supports him and is very fond of him. Of course not everything goes perfect for Leah and her father because all families have disputes, and after following her father for so long conflicts begin to form. As the story continues Leah gradually recognizes her father’s errors and she turns her back on him. She has always followed his rules and always believed that Nathans laws were the laws that she