Purple Hibiscus - Pleasing Papa

Papa is not just strict with religion, he is strict about his family's whole life. He likes order. He makes written schedules for his children of what they will exactly do each day and how much time they will spend doing it. Papa made sure there was time for studying, clothe washing, family time, eating and sleeping. He never allowed them to watch tv and if he did it was only for a little.


Papa was especially strict when it came to school. He expected Jaja and Kambili to come first in their class. On page 39, Kambili says, "He had often told Jaja and me that he did not spend so much money on Daughters of the Immaculate Heart and St. Nicholas to have us let other children come first.". Unfortunately Kambili ended up coming in second in her class and she felt like a failure. She was scared to tell her father because she knew what was going to happen. When Kambili ended up telling her Papa, her Papa went with her to school the next day. Kambili was embarrassed to have her father there with her and knew the other children were talking about her.

It is sad that Kambili is forced to feel like a failure for only coming in second. I think her father should be happy that she even got her grades up to the highest in the class.

Do you think it is wrong that Kambili feels like such a failure for only coming in second? What would you do is your father was as strict as Papa and you came second in the class instead of first?

Purple Hibiscus - Religion

Religion means a lot to Papa. Growing up, unlike himself, Papa did not have strict religious parents. He converted to a different religion then his father and actually stopped speaking to his father because of it. Papa is looked up to in his church because he donates so much money. He lives his life and his family's life around their religion. Papa requires his family to pray and go to church all the time. One day the family went to go visit Father Benedict and Mama didn't want to go in the house because she wasn't feeling good. She wasn't feeling good because she was pregnant and felt like she was going to throw up. When Mama told Papa that she didn't want to go in, he made her. Then later on that night he basically beat the baby out of her stomach because she could not go to visit Father Benedict. That is how serious Papa takes his religion. Papa calls his father a "heathen" and only allows his children to spend 15 minutes with him because of it. When Kambili and Jaja went to go visit their aunt, their grandfather had to stay there because he was sick but Papa didn't know. When he found out he drove to pick them up then poured boiling hot water on their feet because Kambili and Jaja didn't tell their Papa he was staying there.

Every time Papa abuses Kambili, Jaja, or mama, he cries while he does it. On page 194 and 195, Kambili says, "He was crying now, tears streaming down his face. Papa put the kettle down, wiped at his eyes.". Then on page 196, Papa says to Kambili, "Everything I do for you, I do for your own good.". It is almost like Papa does not want to hurt them but feels like he has to to teach them.

Why do you believe Papa cries while he hurts his family? Do you think Papa's religion would accept that he is hurting his family to obey it?

Purple Hibiscus

Purple Hibiscus by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie is a novel that has two different wars going on. One war is outside the home that has to deal with the new government that took over the country Nigeria. The other war is inside the home that 15 year old Kambili, has to struggle with everyday because her Papa has impossible expectations of her, her mama, and her brother, Jaja. Papa is a very strict religious man. He expects his family to do the things he likes or else he becomes abusive. Growing up Kambili thinks this is normal until her and her brother go to visit their aunt's home and live there for a few days. 

Growing up Kambili is a very shy girl. She rarely talks because at home she has to watch what she says to Papa or when she is around him. So when Kambili visits her aunt's home, she is not used to everyone speaking freely to one another, hearing laughter or even seeing smiles. On page 120, Kambili says, "We always spoke with purpose back home.". She gets scared when someone speaks to her because she doesn't know how to speak back. Kambili often stutters or just stays quiet. When someone else says something that she wanted to say she says "I wish I could of said that". She is scared to speak up and speak for herself.

Do you believe that Papa scarred Kambili? Why do you think Kambili is still scared to speak when she is not even around her Papa?