The Hero Saves the (Trage)Day Renowned author F. Scott Fitzgerald once said, "Show me a hero and I 'll write you a tragedy." Whether he is personified through Jay Gatsby of Fitzgerald 's The Great Gatsby, or Homer 's Odyssey, a hero is evident in any tragic work of literature. This idea is similarly presented in Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie 's novel Purple Hibiscus. In this work, Adichie exemplifies Father Amadi as the main hero of the novel due to his actions regarding Kambili 's freedom from her father and from religion, affection for the unfortunate scattered throughout his community, and his recognition of error within himself and society. Father Amadi 's attempt and success at unlocking Kambili 's freedom from her father and her religion
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The first instance where this is illustrated is the period of time when Father Amadi plays soccer with the young boys who are not fortunate enough to attend school. Father Amadi 's compassion for the boys allows him to "see Christ in their faces, in the boys ' faces" (178). Similarly, when he speaks highly of the boys ' success, he nows that "They inspire me, those boys" (179). Father Amadi 's passion for the well being is evident here. The priest is shown care more for these boys than he does for himself. Seeing Christ in the faces of the boys exemplifies the true heroism of Father Amadi. Instead of believing that Christ is strictly within his own body because he is a priest, he sees him in the bodies of those who lead a more humbled, simple lifestyle. Likewise, Father Amadi cares for Kambili and Jaja as much as he cares for the young boys. In fact, Aunty Ifeoma states that "Father Amadi has offered to ask Father Benedict to talk to your father, too. I think it is the best thing for you both now, to go to school away from home" (279).Father Amadi is aware of the abuse that Kambili and Jaja face, and with this realization, he makes an active effort to make their unfortunate lives better by sending them away from home. Father Amadi is willing to do anything and everything in his power to ensure the safety of these two children. In addition to
The first instance where this is illustrated is the period of time when Father Amadi plays soccer with the young boys who are not fortunate enough to attend school. Father Amadi 's compassion for the boys allows him to "see Christ in their faces, in the boys ' faces" (178). Similarly, when he speaks highly of the boys ' success, he nows that "They inspire me, those boys" (179). Father Amadi 's passion for the well being is evident here. The priest is shown care more for these boys than he does for himself. Seeing Christ in the faces of the boys exemplifies the true heroism of Father Amadi. Instead of believing that Christ is strictly within his own body because he is a priest, he sees him in the bodies of those who lead a more humbled, simple lifestyle. Likewise, Father Amadi cares for Kambili and Jaja as much as he cares for the young boys. In fact, Aunty Ifeoma states that "Father Amadi has offered to ask Father Benedict to talk to your father, too. I think it is the best thing for you both now, to go to school away from home" (279).Father Amadi is aware of the abuse that Kambili and Jaja face, and with this realization, he makes an active effort to make their unfortunate lives better by sending them away from home. Father Amadi is willing to do anything and everything in his power to ensure the safety of these two children. In addition to