Throughout the book, I developed the idea that Papa’s expectations, rules, and strictness on Kambili, deprives her of having an outside social life. Kambili never has to solve a problem on her own, since she follows the rules; she can't think for herself. Papa treats her like she isn’t a kid, as if she was a mini adult that knew all the “right” answers. Kambili has the experience of living in Enugu, where she is silent and if she spoke up and said something wrong she is abused for it, however when she was in Nsukka with Aunty Ifeoma's family, she was coaxed into expanding her ideas and being forced to talk back. Now she has to chose between the two people she loves, Father Amadi and Papa. Even though she loves Papa he makes her feel unwanted …show more content…
and leaves her in the dark, not helping to overcome her fears. Despite this, she likes how Father Amadi treats her and how he makes her feel comfortable, treating her like an equal. Throughout the book Kambil has to chose between two different worlds, one where she can be free and be confident or a world where she is shut down by any idea and is fearless all the time, both worlds containing two people whom loves. Have you ever been caught between two worlds that contain loved ones? In Purple Hibiscus by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, over the course of the book Kambili lives in, Engu, an environment where Papa is proud of her silence and keeps her in the dark. We see the dynamic of Kambili’s family, where Papa controls everything their family does, having a one sided mind, “discipline was important” according to Papa, but he still loves Kambili, it's tough love (45). Both Jaja and Kambili have set schedules, Papa wanting his children to be “brilliant, obedient student[s]” along with abusing them, taking full control of them and their lives. (39). They were afraid to speak up. When the whole family was at the dinner table they asked “each other questions whose answers we already knew” Kambili wanted to know answers but she knew if she were to talk that she might be abused, so she figured out that if she didn’t talk it was for the better (23). In their household they were expected to say the “right” thing, “‘Thanks be to God’ It was what Jaja and I said, what Papa expected us to say” implying they have set expectations revolving around Papa, his one sided mind, rather than having freedom of speech (20). Papa give limitations to his children. It's very hard and difficult for Kambili to turn into a confident person since she was raised for 15 years silent. When she first went to Nsukka, she “forced a cough” out of her mouth hoping she “would not stutter” when asking if they could watch tv (79). Aunty Ifeoma and their cousins quickly learned that they were raised silent rather than where they come from an environment where it’s all about being happy and having laughter, “Ifeoma prayed. That we might find peace and laughter today” (127) after Father Amadi said, “‘I haven’t seen you laugh or smile today, Kambili’” (139). This was one of the first times that Kambili interacted with Father Amadi, he quickly noticed that she came from a place where there is no happiness and now she has to learn what happiness and what laughter is, since it's a necessity in life. Aunty Ifeoma pushes them to have the sense of the freedom, telling Kambili and Jaja that, “you can stay up as long as you want afterward to watch tv or whatever else” this was just the beginning of their freedom (124). They're both learning that they are in an unhealthy family relationship and needed something to divert their attention. These two families overlap when Kambili and Jaja go to stay with Aunty Ifeoma.
Jaja and Kambili first discover freedom and joy there, and they don’t want to leave, finally seeing how different their family is from Ifeoma’s, realizing how unhealthy their own family is. Kambili is brought out of her silence shell, entering a new life in which she can be free to say what she want’s without being judged or abused. When she got to Nsukka, Aunty Ifeoma told Father Amadi that she “was worried about [Kambili], that she could not hold a conversation with even the children upstairs. But she didn’t ask me to take you [to the soccer field]” implying that it was purely Father Amadi’s choice to help her, he knew what was right and what needed to be done (280). Because of his influence Kambili “smiled, [ran] and laughed. [Her] chest was filled with something like bath foam. Light.” that being said, she finally overcame her fears showing that she can be strong and confident on her own (180). By the end of the book right before Father Amadi leaves for Germany, Kambili went up to him and said, “I love you” implying that over the course of the time at Aunty Ifeoma's, it transformed her into a person where she could express her feelings, making her feel more free and open (276). Kambili is finally finding value in herself from being with Father Amadi. I think the moment when she tells Father Amadi she loves him is important because he doesn't say I love you back directly, but in his letters later talks about her self-worth, maybe encouraging her to love herself first. He wanted to persuade Kambili into believing in herself and making sure she has her own opinion in life. By the end of the book, Kambili is freed by the combination of Amadi’s influence and Ifeoma's house in “Nsukka [which] could free something deep inside your belly that would rise up to your throat and come out as a freedom song. As laughter” (299). She loved the sensational feeling and “wanted to leave with Father
Amadi, or with Aunty Ifeoma, and never come back”(268). She loved her new life where she can he independent and be free minded. Throughout the book Adichie demonstrates her idea of a healthy and an unhealthy family. One that creates love, but also accepts differences and supports individuals as they grow and change. However it's dangerous to think independently in Enugu and how these two worlds never meet, always collided. For instance when Kambili brought a painting back from Nsukka and Papa, ended up abused, Papa poured boiling water on her feet. Kambili tried to bring her voice back to Enugu but doesn't succeed, she put a lot of effort and worked so hard. In the end it doesn't matter since Papa dies, she finally gets her freedom. But without Aunty Ifeoma and Father Amadi she would still be silent. Kambili never gave up. Even though she is allowed that freedom she never picks a world by the end.
In the novel, The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, the author, Rebecca Skloot, tries to convince the audience that her argument regarding, Henrietta and her cells is worth thinking about. Skloot argues that the woman whose body contained these life-changing cells deserved to be recognized. While trying to prove her side of the argument, Skloot uses logos within the novel to emphasize to the audience just how important her cells are, by providing the science behind the cells and their accomplishments.
In a letter Abigail Adams rights to her son, John Quincy Adams, who is traveling abroad with his father, John Adams, she advises her son to take advantage of the opportunities he has to utilize his own knowledge and talents to improve his sophistication and obtain growth in expanding im his character. Abigail Adams carried a maternal tone to encourage her son along his journey throughout the letter. Adams supports her position by giving examples with pathos, analogies and allusions.
On January 12, 1780, Abigail Adams, former First Lady, wrote to her son, John Quincy Adams, while he was abroad with his father and brother. Adams addressed to her son and future President to maintain his spirit to learn and grow. She expressed his purpose through her motherly tone, various religious and historical allusions, use of logos, rhetorical question with simple syntax and use of metaphors.
America in the mid to early nineteenth century saw the torture of many African Americans in slavery. Plantation owners did not care whether they were young or old, girl or boy, to them all slaves were there to work. One slave in particular, Frederick Douglass, documented his journey through slavery in his autobiography Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass. Through the use of various rhetorical devices and strategies, Douglass conveys the dehumanizing and corrupting effect of slavery, in order to show the overall need for American abolition. His use of devices such as parallelism, asyndeton, simile, antithesis, juxtaposition and use of irony, not only establish ethos but also show the negative effects of slavery on slaves, masters and
The amount of female support Kambili receives in Nsukka from Aunty Ifeoma and Amaka ultimately help her gain confidence and show her the meaning of what it feels like to be free from male dominance. Aunty Ifeoma illustrates that she is not afraid to speak her mind in any situation especially when you have done no wrong. When Papa abused Kambili after she dove after the ripped painting of Papa-Nnukwu, Aunty Ifeoma immediately spoke and sai...
In paragraph 7 Douglass is starting to hate his life, which makes him eager to hear people talk about slavery. “I often found myself regretting my own existence, and wishing myself dead…” (Douglass, 103) “While in this state of mind, I was eager to hear any one speak of slavery.” (Douglass, 103)
He constantly attempts to control her and enforce his goals on her. For example, Papa pushed Kambili to constantly study in her room until she was ranked first in her class, even when it halted her social life completely (Adichie, 49-51). When Kambili finally earns her number one ranking, she falls “asleep hugging close the image of Papa’s face lit up” and “the sound of Papa’s voice telling [her] how proud of [her] he was” (Adichie, 52-53). Kambili’s goal to become the highest ranked student in her class was motivated by Papa’s wishes and expectations rather than Kambili’s true desires. Further on, Kambili dreams of laughing. She says: “I dreamed that I was laughing, but it did not sound like my laughter, although I was not sure what my laughter sounded like. It was cackling and throaty and enthusiastic, like Aunty Ifeoma’s” (Adichie, 88). Kambili slowly starts to realize that she does not have to be miserable her entire life. After she spends time with Aunty Ifeoma, her more expressive side comes to light. Later in the novel, Kambili laughs out loud, showing her progression down the road to her freedom. As Kambili spends time with Father Amadi, she is surprised by the sound of her own laughter: “I laughed. It sounded strange, as if I were listening to the recorded laughter of a stranger being played back. I was not sure I had ever heard myself laugh. ‘Why did you become a priest?’ I blurted out,
Throughout the novel the theme of blood is often mentioned. The blood has various meanings, but overall it signifies part of his identity. It is Bính’s blood that grounds him to his origins and I argue that it represents his life in Vietnam as something that he can never run away from. Vietnam will follow him wherever he goes and for that reason he will never quite fit in anywhere else.
in the village. He also thinks that he can be able to things without others help. In
Kamara’s story does give a glimpse of what it is like to be a part of this conflict, but this is her story as a civilian. Through her inner thoughts, Kamara describes the feelings of a civilian running away from the rebels. She had encountered the rebels when they burned down her home and when they cut off her hands. After being injured by the rebels, she tries to escape to...
Kambili describes how Papa explains to her and Jaja they will visit their grandfather: “Kevin will take you. Remember, don’t touch any food, don’t drink anything. And, as usual, you will stay not longer than fifteen minutes. Fifteen minutes” (Adichie 61). While Kambili listens to her father inform her that she must not touch the food or stay longer than fifteen minutes, reveals Kambili's initial doubts about Papa-Nnukwu. She wants to express her feelings; however, she knows her father would not accept her true thoughts and feelings. The external conflict exhibits the limitation her father places on, not just her but her entire family, demonstrates the internal conflict between her feelings and what she should do to satisfy her father. In addition to her not being allowed to visit her grandfather, Kambili’s father finds out that she had stayed in the same house as her Papa- Nnukwu. At
Kamara's emotional disability from witnessing gruesome murders has strengthened her to plant a positive change in the world. Both characters made a difference in society, but Kamara channeled her strength after seeing, feeling, and hearing pain. Beah physically sees deaths in his own hands from killing others but he is desensitized to murder. Beah is brought up to accept that murdering is a norm and that there is no sympathy in killing people. During the war, he does not have the emotional disability that impaired Kamara. He is unable to rationalize taking innocent lives and therefore, cannot gain moral strengths. In contrast, Kamara is not numbed to this atrocity. Her strength comes from seeing the harsh reality that ignites her desire to change society. Kamara optimistically stated, "We had an important purpose: to help raise awareness of my country's problems" (Kamara and McC...
The persuasive attempts in both literary works produce different results. The effectiveness of the mother’s guidance to her daughter is questioned since the girl cannot recognize the essence of her mother’s lesson. Despite that, the mother’s beneficial instruction serves as a standard for the daughter to reflect her future behaviors in order to live up to the community’s expectations. On the other hand, Anne’s value of candid expression and lasting relationship dissuades her from obliging to her family’s meaningless duty to place her love and interest above to experience fulfillment in life.
On page 276 Kambili had confessed her love for Father Amadi and he had said he wasn’t the one for her. On the same page Kambili said “ He was wrong. He was so so wrong.” This shows anger because Kambili has so much love for Father Amadi and she was so sad and frustrated about how he reacted to her confession. In the quote you can also see how Kambili was frustrated because she kept telling herself that Father Amadi was wrong about his decision. The next trait the Kambili is grief. On page 298 Aunty Ifeoma and Father Amadi moves away to different countries and Eugene was poisoned by Mama. A quote from this page states “ I asked the new family to come in.” This goes back to Horace’s quote because In the beginning of the book Kambili never really felt grief or any other emotions because of Eugene. The quote also tells how Kambili had grieved over Aunty Ifeoma moving away because she asked the current owner of Aunty Ifeoma’s old flat can she come
In the beginning of the story, Kambili always support, believe, and follow Papa’s religion closely and didn’t mind if Papa acted violently because of the religion. She has never asked or questioned her father about anything in life as her father stated that questioning wasagainst the religion. Due to the totalitarian structure of the family and strict scheduling that her father created, she was shy, quiet and an obeying person. She had little to no interactions with classmates and the society as a whole