Monday, November 30, 2015
Purple hibiscuses post #2
Kambili idolizes her father and will do anything he asks in a heart beat. The father is even more of a control freak then I thought, even controlling when the kids wash their clothes and how they have to present themselves. At the moment the narrator is going in the past and describing how life was before Palm Sunday and before her brother began to see the corruption in his family. Kambili gets upset how her mother doesn't care about much even when violence takes a part in their lives but I have a sense of peace and clarity as I read on. The day before Palm Sunday the achikes come to visit, a wealthy family, and mama does her best to make it seem life at their house is grand and special. They came over the house to have their prayer group which practices and sings in a way that papa would flinch if he heard them. Later on after Palm Sunday and the religious traditions that came about Kambili goes on to tell that papa and Jaja were playing chess while listening to the radio and this is when we hear about the government and how there was a coup and a new government will be introduced in Nigeria. Since the narrator of the story is a little girl we never get a full explaination of what corruption is going on outside the family but we hear bits and pieces. The main focus is the tragedies that take place in front of Kambili in her everyday life.
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I noticed this too about the father. He has a weird way of expressing himself, and it's harsh and rude. I wouldn't want some religious father forcing crazy rules down my throat. He has a need to control every single thing and it's insane!
ReplyDeleteDo you believe that because she is young they shield her from really knowing what going on outside of her home? Also do you think she is too young to know or should she be exposed at the age she is now?
ReplyDeletei agree, after reading this i could connect it to my life in some ways. my dad can be very demanding and strict at points, but no where like their father in the book. and i think that she should be exposed to the real life at a young age so she will be able to learn and grow...prepare herself for when she becomes an adult in the real world, not her fathers house.
ReplyDeleteI totally agree with you guys. The father is definitely a strange man. For instance, when he started disciplining Kambili and Jaja for ultimately "stepping into sin" when they failed to tell him that their grandfather was staying with them and their aunt; he began pouring boiling hot water on their feet. Yet, it wasn't anger that filled his eyes but tears. I dont understand why he punished his children in such harsh ways, but cries doing so. He obviously doesn't feel bad for doing so since abuse is a constant aspect throughout this story.
ReplyDeleteI totally agree with you guys. The father is definitely a strange man. For instance, when he started disciplining Kambili and Jaja for ultimately "stepping into sin" when they failed to tell him that their grandfather was staying with them and their aunt; he began pouring boiling hot water on their feet. Yet, it wasn't anger that filled his eyes but tears. I dont understand why he punished his children in such harsh ways, but cries doing so. He obviously doesn't feel bad for doing so since abuse is a constant aspect throughout this story.
ReplyDelete