Ideas for Future Essay

I want to delve more into Papa Eugene and Kambili’s relationship, while comparing it to a relationship in another story. I think that the behavior that both exhibit is characteristic of many abusive relationships. While we, the reader, may have difficulty understanding it, I think that it is actually very typical of an abusive relationship. I still do not know what story I could compare it with. I have a few ideas including comparing it to the relationship in “The End of Something” by Ernest Hemingway, which although about a couple in a non-abusive relationship is also about a couple struggling to end their relationship. I feel like Kambili later on does not know how to properly end her relationship with her father. Of course then he gets killed (spoiler!) so maybe that’s not the best idea. Basically, I want to explore the relationship between Papa Eugene and Kambili, but I am struggling with ideas for stories to compare it to. So if anyone has any ideas, comment below please!

I want to explore Kambili’s character more and compare her to a character in one of the short stories. I think that she goes through an incredible amount of growth during this story. When forced to spend time at Aunty Ifeoma’s house she learns more about herself and the family history her father tried to repress. She also experiences a sort of sexual awakening that has not been seen before when she falls for the priest. I think that this character growth can be compared to that of the female character in “The Most Girl Part of You” by Amy Hempel. Both stories have a coming of age theme and the female character in “The Most Girl Part of You” is having an attraction that she has not had before. They both also come from broken families, which perhaps impacts their relationships with the opposite sex. Kambili, coming from a religious family, ironically falls for the priest in the story. I wonder how her religious upbringing impacted this.

I also was thinking about taking Papa Eugene’s character and comparing it to the grandmother character in “A Good Man is Hard to Find” by Flannery O’Connor. I am hesitant to do this, however, because my last paper included an in-depth analysis on the religious themes in that short story and its effect on the final scene. I think that both characters are very similar though. They both put themselves and their needs above those of their families. They also use religion to excuse their behavior. Hiding behind religion is a way for them to forgive themselves for the horrible things they do. Both characters are very selfish despite their claims that they are just trying to help the greater good and achieve a deep spirituality. I think that the grandmother achieves redemption by the end of the story but I do not know if Papa Eugene does at the end.

An Important Page in the "Purple Hibiscus"

Pg. 86

Aunty Ifeoma laughed and spoke in English. “Jaja, you’re not supposed to say there are people in there. Didn’t you know that?”

“No,” Jaja said.

She was watching Jaja. “You didn’t do the ima mmuo, did you? Obiora did it two years ago in his father’s hometown.”

“No, I didn’t,” Jaja mumbled.

I looked at Jaja and wondered if the dimness in his eyes was shame. I suddenly wished, for him, that he had done the ima mmuo, the initiation into the spirit world. I knew very little about it, women were not supposed to know anything at all, since it was the first step toward the initiation to manhood. But Jaja once told me that he heard the boys were flogged and made to bathe in the presence of a taunting crowd. The only time Papa had talked about ima mmuo was to say that the Christians who let their sons do it were confused that they would end up in hellfire.

We left Ezi Icheke soon afterward. Aunty Ifeoma dropped off a sleepy Papa-Nnukwu first; his good eye was half closed while his going-blind eye stayed open, the film covering it looked thicker now, like concentrated milk. When Aunty Ifeoma stopped inside our compound, she asked her children if they wanted to come into the house, and Amaka said no, in a loud voice that seemed to prompt her brothers to say the same. Aunt Ifeoma took us in, waved to Papa, who was in the middle of a meeting, and hugged Jaja and me in her tight way before leaving.

I think that this is a very crucial moment in the story for Jaja’s character development. Before this we have seen him go through a desire to break out of the control that his father has put upon him. This is very difficult for him and he faces the wrath of his father. However, when he comes to Aunty Ifeoma’s house he begins to learn more about the world outside of his family and a less restricted way of living despite Ifeoma’s involment in the Catholic Church. Jaja appears to be slightly ashamed by his lack of participation in this event, as if it makes him maybe less of a man. Adichie shows this by having Kambili observe Jaja’s reaction in this moment. She ponders if, “the dimness in his eyes was shame.” Jaja is also comparing himself in many ways to Ifeoma’s son, Obioro, who has participated in these traditions despite the fact that his father is deceased. However, this does not prevent Obioro from having a strong connection to his father’s family. This is in contrast to Jaja’s relationship with his paternal grandfather, who he is not allowed to spend a significant amount of time with. This stay with Aunty Ifeoma exposes both Jaja and Kambili to an entirely different way of life and I believe that this page has some critical insight into the change that Jaja will undergo. 

The Most Exciting Time of My Life... So Far

My life was incredibly boring before college. I felt sometimes as if I wasn’t actually living, like I was just going through the motions. I was the model student and daughter. I went to school, never skipped class, always did my homework, participated in a gazillion extracurricular, and rarely partied. I was the quintessential nice, good girl. I felt like I had been boxed in though, and like my friends didn’t even know me that well. Something inside of me desired to break out of the box I had been put in. That was why I thought that summer term at Michigan was the perfect opportunity to do so.

 

It was probably the most exciting time of my life. Every day was filled with a new, crazy and exciting story to laugh over. I also met some really great friends and learned to accept people I never would have looked at before. My roommate who I thought was a crazy hippie at first, turned out to be one of the most interesting and wonderful people I have ever met. I also had far too much fun, making up for my lack of it in high school.

However, summer ends and just like my tan everything seemed to fade away. Some of my friends I have remained close to, others I rarely speak to. The problem with a big campus is that you can easily disappear if you want to. People change and in order to remain close you have to make an effort. I’m starting to become more involved in the Alice Lloyd community, which I was hesitant to do at first because I was so desperate to prevent change and keep my friend group intact.

The novelty of partying wears off after a while. I’m slightly burnt out and ready for a break. I didn’t get a summer vacation, a final goodbye before I went off to school like most kids.

However, I am starting to feel as if I am rediscovering Michigan again. This is a beautiful thing. You can be anyone you want at this campus and reinvent yourself a million times. I have to remind myself that just because I’ve been here for a couple months longer than most freshmen, I actually don’t know everything.

I certainly have changed since coming here, but I continue to learn new things about myself and life everyday.

Things change and people do too, but the memories you make always remain. 

Character Sketch of Papa

The character of Papa (Eugene) is an example of what can happen when a person uses religion to justify their actions throughout life. He is an older Catholic man, living in post-colonial Nigeria, most likely in his 50s, with a possibly younger wife who is attempting to conceive a child in order to hold her family and position in society together. His most interesting relationship is with his daughter, Kambili. She is unable to see what the reader sees. She looks up at Papa with both admiration and fear even though he abuses the family. He beats each member of the family and psychologically torments them. Kambili’s consistent attempts to please him in every aspect of life showcases the behavior of someone who is abused and struggling to please their abuser. Every semester she tries to be first in her class of 25. When she comes in an impressive second one semester, he subjects her to psychological punishment. However, Papa shows more affection for Kambili than he does anyone else in the book. Papa is not only a tyrannical figure in his household, but also in the religious community as well. He controls many of the actions that occur with the priest and other aspects of the Church. When Kambili goes in for a confessional one day, it can be noted that it appears as if the Priest already knows what she has done. This is concerning because what should be considered a very private, therapeutic event for Kambili is in actuality another attempt from her father to psychologically manipulate her. He does care for his family, but he has no compassion and a warped sense of morality. He wants his family members to succeed not simply for them, but for himself.

If I had to compare him to one character in the short stories we have read it would be Shakumar in a Temporary Matter. Papa and Shakumar parallel each other in a couple of ways. Papa is oblivious to the seriousness of the problems in his families relationships, while Shakumar can also be described in the same way. They both don’t realize what their lack of affection towards their family members has done until it is too late. In many ways, Shobha, the wife in a Temporary Matter is also similar to Beatrice, Papa’s wife. Both suffer from a miscarriage and struggle with the aftermath while living in unsatisfying marriages. They also feel as if they are less of a woman because they are unable to carry those children to term. 

What am I doing differently while reading this novel?

I am doing something I don’t typically do when I read; I am attempting to read this story on an Ipad. Typically, when I read, I like to read books. To me, there is nothing better than holding a book in your hands and being able to mark it up. The concept of reading a book electronically is completely new to me. I may invest in a physical copy of the book because so far I am not enjoying this way of reading and I think it actually hinders my experience.

I read novels differently than I do short stories. I think that when I read short stories I like to look at the little details, whereas when I read a novel I am thinking about the bigger picture. I am paying more attention to the characters in this novel than I have in any of the short stories we have read. The wonderful thing about novels is the depth that can be reached in character development.

I like novels in part because I feel like I can just sit down and enjoy myself while I am reading. I am fully able to immerse myself in a novel in a way that I cannot with a short story. I feel a sense of accomplishment when I finally finish a novel.