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?