In Purple Hibiscus, author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie illustrates a story of religion, abuse, and love. Ostensibly, Kambili Achike and her brother, Jaja, live happily in an enormous house with a father that the church regards as higher than God. However, within the walls of the house, Kambili and Jaja are restricted by their authoritative father, who physically punishes his family when he perceives that they have committed a sin. The siblings are unaware of the precarious environment they reside in until they visit their aunt in Nsukka; with the influence of Father Amadi, Aunty Ifeoma, and Papa-Nnukwu, Kambili and Jaja are exposed to new experiences and new possibilities, learning that life is not meant to be lived in fear. Father Amadi, Aunty
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Amaka continuously ridicules Kambili and her seemingly perfect life, and Kambili, not used to defending herself, simply takes Amaka’s insults. At first, Aunty Ifeoma reprimands Amaka (Adiche 122), but later she urges Kambili to retaliate herself by saying, “Have you no mouth? Talk back to her!” (Adiche 170). Aunty Ifeoma shows her children, Kambili and Jaja that they can have their own ideas and be their own people. She does not reprimand them for failure, she sets “higher and higher jumps for [her children] in the way she talked to them” (Adiche 226). Additionally, Aunty Ifeoma does not allow her religious views to dictate her parenting. Just because religion says sins must be punished in a particular way does not force Aunty Ifeoma to comply to that way. Instead, she adopted her own method of encouragement, which was a positive influence in her children’s lives. When compared to Kambili and Jaja, Aunty Ifeoma’s children are confident and independent, satisfied with their lives although they are not …show more content…
For the majority of her life, she believed that her father’s way of practicing religion was the correct way. After Papa Eugene beat Kambili, Jaja, and Mama Beatrice with his belt, he asks, “Did the belt hurt you?” and although Kambili “felt a throbbing” on her back she told him that she was not hurt (Adiche 102). In this instance and subsequent ones, Kambili justifies her father’s abuse, believing that her father, the man who the entire town admired and respected, was fair in physically punishing her for her mistakes. It is not until Kambili and Jaja travel to Nsukka do they recognize the fault in their father’s actions. Papa’s strict faith controls everything at home, while in Nsukka Aunty Ifeoma and her children are religious, but more easygoing; the contrast between the two homes reveals the effects of the varying degrees of religious practice. In Nsukka, due to fewer rules from religion, the children have more liberty. Amaka, Obiora, and even little Chima actively engage in mindless conversation during meals. At home, Jaja and Kambili were only meant to speak with purpose and with compliments towards their father, however, their cousins seemed to “speak and speak and speak” with little regard (Adiche 120). Living in a less strict atmosphere, where every moment is not governed by whether it pleases God or is productive helps Kambili learn to speak up for herself. At first, when Amaka teases her
Amaka continuously ridicules Kambili and her seemingly perfect life, and Kambili, not used to defending herself, simply takes Amaka’s insults. At first, Aunty Ifeoma reprimands Amaka (Adiche 122), but later she urges Kambili to retaliate herself by saying, “Have you no mouth? Talk back to her!” (Adiche 170). Aunty Ifeoma shows her children, Kambili and Jaja that they can have their own ideas and be their own people. She does not reprimand them for failure, she sets “higher and higher jumps for [her children] in the way she talked to them” (Adiche 226). Additionally, Aunty Ifeoma does not allow her religious views to dictate her parenting. Just because religion says sins must be punished in a particular way does not force Aunty Ifeoma to comply to that way. Instead, she adopted her own method of encouragement, which was a positive influence in her children’s lives. When compared to Kambili and Jaja, Aunty Ifeoma’s children are confident and independent, satisfied with their lives although they are not …show more content…
For the majority of her life, she believed that her father’s way of practicing religion was the correct way. After Papa Eugene beat Kambili, Jaja, and Mama Beatrice with his belt, he asks, “Did the belt hurt you?” and although Kambili “felt a throbbing” on her back she told him that she was not hurt (Adiche 102). In this instance and subsequent ones, Kambili justifies her father’s abuse, believing that her father, the man who the entire town admired and respected, was fair in physically punishing her for her mistakes. It is not until Kambili and Jaja travel to Nsukka do they recognize the fault in their father’s actions. Papa’s strict faith controls everything at home, while in Nsukka Aunty Ifeoma and her children are religious, but more easygoing; the contrast between the two homes reveals the effects of the varying degrees of religious practice. In Nsukka, due to fewer rules from religion, the children have more liberty. Amaka, Obiora, and even little Chima actively engage in mindless conversation during meals. At home, Jaja and Kambili were only meant to speak with purpose and with compliments towards their father, however, their cousins seemed to “speak and speak and speak” with little regard (Adiche 120). Living in a less strict atmosphere, where every moment is not governed by whether it pleases God or is productive helps Kambili learn to speak up for herself. At first, when Amaka teases her