Reverend Frank Underdown Character Analysis in The Poisonwood Bible

A missionary in Africa who provides Nathan Price and his family with supplies, shelter, and advice about how to get by in the Congo. Underdown is a useful expository device in the novel: whenever there’s a big historical event in the Congo, we can count on Frank Underdown showing up to explain it to the Prices—and, by extension, to us as readers. At the same time, the Underdown and his family serve as examples of the corruption and failure of missionary activities in the Congo, living in a mansion with servants rather than living among the people they have come, ostensibly, to serve. After the military coup that leaves the Congo in the hands of Joseph Mobutu, it is Underdown who advises Nathan to leave the country immediately. Nathan stubbornly decides to stay behind, ending his already strained relationship with Underdown.

Reverend Frank Underdown Quotes in The Poisonwood Bible

The The Poisonwood Bible quotes below are all either spoken by Reverend Frank Underdown or refer to Reverend Frank Underdown. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:

Freedom, Growth, and Coming-of-age Theme Icon

).

Father said, “An election. Frank, I’m embarrassed for you. You’re quaking in your boots over a fairy tale. Why, open your eyes, man. These people can’t even read a simple slogan: Vote for Me! Down with Shapoopie! An election! Who out here would even know it happened?”

Related Characters: Nathaniel Price (speaker), Rachel Price (speaker), Reverend Frank Underdown

Page Number and Citation: 167

Explanation and Analysis:

Reverend Frank Underdown Character Timeline in The Poisonwood Bible

The timeline below shows where the character Reverend Frank Underdown appears in The Poisonwood Bible. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

As Nathan speaks with Mr. Underdown , Mrs. Underdown playfully makes fun of Leah and her siblings for their thick Southern... (full context)

...upcoming election. They explain that Belgium has agreed to accept the terms of the election. Frank Underdown says that both the Russians and the Americans have a stake in the Congo’s... (full context)

Frank Underdown reminds Nathan that he wasn’t really supposed to come to the Congo at all,... (full context)

Frank Underdown tries to restore calm, and he tells Orleanna and Nathan that he doesn’t know... (full context)

Frank proceeds to tell the Prices about what will happen in June: Belgium will pull out... (full context)