Emotional Abuse In Purple Hibiscus

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Envision being involved in the horribly difficult situation of enduring the struggles of emotional abuse coming from a family member. At the start, struggles come off as idle and not much occurring between the person dealing with the abuse, and the person initiating it. Soon enough it progresses gradually and throws several difficulties in the way on the victim. These difficulties can potentially cause issues for the victim, can continue to throw the person off. Some difficulties include, fearfulness, depression, isolation, and a copious amount of other smaller issues may come up. In the novel Purple Hibiscus By Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, a large portrayal of experiences involving emotional abuse ties back to varieties of experiences humans …show more content…

Papa begins to suspect Kambili and Jaja have been in the presence of ‘heathen’s while they were away. Consequently, when Papa discovers Kambili and Jaja spent time with their grandfather (or name him), he is infuriated and physically abuses them both. As Kambili endures the excruciating pain, she admits, “I stepped into the tub and stood looking at him. It didn't seem that he was going to get a stick and I felt fear, stinging and raw, fill my bladder and my ears” (193). This scenario illuminates Kambili’s inner thoughts, and further portrays the detrimental impact of abuse. For Kambili, her fear and pain displays how Papa’s firm and authoritative attitude impacts their relationship as a whole. Unease is brought into this situation as Kambili watches her father, as well as when she prepares herself for what will occur. Furthermore, Papa continues to the pain he puts Kambili through. As he speaks to her, he seems to be infuriated in a very monotone way, being upset with the fact that Kambili did not make him aware of her grandfather coming to Nsukka. Which then leads to Kambili admitting to Papa that she is in the presence of a heathen while away at Aunt Ifeoma's house. Papa admits, “You should strive for perfection. You should not see sin and walk right into it” (194). This example of Papa’s expectations he wants from Kambili causes her to become more to herself, and constantly …show more content…

Trust represented for Papa is a fragile treasure that he means to hold deeply, and expect of it very highly from his family. Mistrust is brought into the situation where Papa takes Kambili to her school. Upon their arrival, tension begins to arise as Papa questions Kambili, as well as the reasoning behind why she allowed her classmate Chinwe come before she arrived. Papa notices Chinwe is a lighter color, which pushes disappointment onto Kambili, therefore leading her to feel under pressure, and to step out of her comfort zone. Mistrust is then brought into the situation as Papa believes Kambili should be superior to her classmates. He believes that Kambili is not trying hard enough to live up to the expectation of being a stellar student. Papa informs Kambili as they are standing at the classroom door: “The girl has one head too, she does not have two. So why did you let her come first?” (47) Papa’s ideal he expects for Kambili has been set too high, which continuously builds up her feeling of pressure. Kambili would feel as if Papa doesn’t trust her capabilities in school, further revealing her actions in the class. As papa informs Kambili of his experiences during his school years, she notices his lectures similar to this have been repeated. Mistrust is shown here since Papa feels the need to repeat

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