The Poisonwood Bible

The Messiah/Savior Complex is a state of mind in which a person believes that they are responsible for saving or assisting others. It is often considered a religious delusion. A “white savior” is a term for a person who attempts to provide help to a person of color in a patronizing and/or self-aggrandizing way. The White Savior Complex is a combination of these terms, which refers to the mindset demonstrated when a white person offers help to people of color in a condescending and self-congratulatory manner, often attempting to “civilize” the non-white individuals. It expresses the idea found in Rudyard Kipling’s 1899 poem, “The White Man’s Burden,” which asserts that white Westerners have a moral obligation to colonize “uncivilized” countries. This overtly racist ideology is connected to the similar concept of Manifest Destiny and has been used to justify imperialism.

Reverend Price’s White Savior Complex serves as the impetus for the Price family’s relocation to Africa, putting the events of the novel into motion. He is convinced that he, unlike all who came before him, will singlehandedly save the souls of the Congolese people by educating them in how they should live their lives. He genuinely believes that he knows what is best for them, despite his profound ignorance of the language, culture, and political history of the area.