PURPLE HIBISCUS ESSAY
June, 2023
The conflicting feelings of what true belief is, affects Papa, Jaja, and Papa Nnukwu in contrasting ways in Purple Hibiscus, by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. Papa’s connection to Christianity has blinded him towards his children and makes him believe in perfection while not seeing the flawed people in front of him. Papa’s always-rising expectations of Jaja influenced the way Jaja sees religion. The way Papa treats Papa Nnukwu’s religion shows again Papa’s impulsive need to convert anyone to Christianity because of his strict ties with the religion. Religion connects to Jaja, Papa, and Papa Nnukwu because it impacts the way they interact with their family; whether it inspires them to do better like with Papa Nnukwu or makes them fear every action they take like with Jaja and Papa.
The burdens put on Kambili and Jaja’s shoulders by Papa to always be faultless should never be put on children at that age. Papa’s devotion to Christianity forces him to think that his family should always be above everyone because of their status in Nigeria and in church. When Ade Coker, Papa’s editor of The Standard is talking about Kambili and Jaja, Papa feels pride in his children being quiet and he says, “’They are not like loud children people are raising these days, with no home training and no fear of God’, Papa said and I was certain that it was pride that stretched Papa’s lips and lightened his eyes.” (58) Papa feels joy about his children being timid and subdued, which shows how badly he has treated his children for them to become the image that Papa created for them. Children, like Amaka, naturally express their views and judgment because it is what helps them form opinions that they think are right, not what their parents believe in. Since Papa has abused Kambili and Jaja if they try to speak their mind, they have been forced to listen to their parents and be afraid of violence if they don’t. Papa’s religion has caused him to think that there is a way to achieve perfection and his family should strive for it too.
Jaja family has been pushed and pulled by Papa to such an extent that it affected his family in ways that individually, they will never recover from. Papa’s strict disciples to religion are one of the critical factors that cause Jaja to become defiant against him and become a person who believes that taking care of his family is more important than worshipping God. When Jaja replies to Papa about why he didn’t go to communion after Papa threatens him, Jaja says “’Then I will die.’ Fear darkened Jaja’s eyes to the color of coal tar, but he looked Papa in the face now. ‘Then I will die, Papa.’” (6,7) Jaja has seen the way Papa treats Mama and Kambili for slight mistakes and he believes that Christianity made him this way. It created a monster that he never wanted to become. Jaja’s resistance to Papa principles of God changed what Jaja believes religion to be. Religion is the act of worshipping a higher power or something greater than you. Jaja feels that the way his family acts toward Papa is the same way they treat God. This has impacted the way Jaja feels about religion because of how Papa has treated his family. When Jaja chooses to reject his father because of the abuse toward his family, he is also making the decision to reject Christianity and religion itself.
Papa’s actions and feelings toward Papa Nnukwu reveal the hatred that Papa carries to people who do not follow the Bible. Papa Nnukwu’s religious conflictions with Papa’s belief of Christianity show how the power of belief can affect relationships with your loved ones. When Papa reluctantly lets Kambili and Jaja go to Papa Nnukwu’s house he says, “’ I don’t like to send you to the home of a heathen, but God will protect you,’” (62) Papa treats his own father with no respect and looks down on him for practicing another religion. The manner in which Papa Nnukwu treats his family with different religions and Papa’s religious intolerance to Non-Christians completely contrast one another. Papa Nnukwu has always treated Kamibili and Jaja well, even though he has little money and barely spends any time with them. He always finds a way to lift Kambili and Jaja up, while Papa finds always seems to find the cracks in his children’s façade of dutifulness. Papa Nnukwu connection to idols and ancient gods help him see that people are not perfect, but that forgiveness is the key to everything. This causes him to forgive Papa again and again for being so curt toward him. This is also the key that Papa has failed to see in his belief and causes him to continue to hurt his children until they line up with his perceptions of flawlessness.
Religion has changed the way these three characters feel about perfection, family, and respect. If Papa had been able to forgive his children for their mistakes and look past their faults, his shattered family would have been kept whole. Papa’s relentless disdain of his children caused them to believe that they would never be good enough for Papa. If that Jaja had looked past Papa harming Kambili and Mama, he would never have defied Papa and realized that Papa’s power of belief is so strong that it affects his view of everything. Jaja’s disobedience makes him realize that religion caused Papa to become an abuser and this causes him to reject Christianity. If Papa Nnukwu had never given regard to Kambili or Jaja to visit him, they would never have seen that there was a better way to live than in fear of being beaten for things that were out of their control. The power of belief shown by the characters in this book can reflect on events of religious tolerance that countries around the world commit. Purple Hibiscus teaches readers a person should always be treated as an equal, no matter their religion or flaws.