Papa's cruelty - · PDF filePapa's cruelty burning their feet (pp. 194–95). He does not help his sister, Ifeoma, who is so clearly in need, although she jokes bitterly about his

Papa's cruelty

Eugene Achike, or Papa, does many cruel things, [HOW MANY CAN YOU LIST]

Papa's cruelty

Eugene Achike, or Papa, does many cruel things, such as rejecting his father, hitting his wife so often and so hard that several pregnancies end in miscarriage and ruthlessly punishing his children by, for example attacking them with a belt (p. 102)

Papa's cruelty

burning their feet (pp. 194–95).

Papa's cruelty

burning their feet (pp. 194–95). He does not help his sister, Ifeoma, who is so clearly in need, although she jokes bitterly about his having offered her help when her husband died provided that she dressed and behaved exactly as her brother ordered (p. 95).

Papa's cruelty

burning their feet (pp. 194–95). He does not help his sister, Ifeoma, who is so clearly in need, although she jokes bitterly about his having offered her help when her husband died provided that she dressed and behaved exactly as her brother ordered (p. 95). Nonetheless, Papa is not simply a

monster set up for the reader to hate

Characterisation - Papa

• ‘You cannot stop receiving the body of our Lord. It is death, you know that.’ (p. 6)

Why?



• ‘You didn’t put in your best this term. You came second because you chose to.’ (pp. 41–42)




• ‘“Why do you walk into sin?” […] “Why do you like sin?”’ (p. 102) . I felt a throbbing on my back, but I said no, that I was not hurt. It was the way Papa shook his head when he talked about liking sin, as if something weighed him down, something he could not throw off.




• ‘“Why do you walk into sin?” […] “Why do you like sin?”’ (p. 102)

• ‘This is what you do to yourself when you walk into sin. You burn your feet.’ (p. 194)


• ‘Everything I do for you, I do for your own good.’ (p. 196)


• ‘Everything I do for you, I do for your own good.’ (p. 196)

• ‘“I should have made Ade hold that story […]. I should have protected him. I should have made him stop that story.”’ (p. 207)



• is the central, dominant figure in Kambili’s narrative



• is an educated man who has studied in Britain




• throws a book at his son when he realises that Jaja is rebelling





• refuses to see his idol-worshipping father but sends him small sums of money





• refuses to see his idol-worshipping father but sends him small sums of money

• is often tender and loving with his children


• disapproves of his sister and her children


• disapproves of his sister and her children • causes his wife to have several

miscarriages by hitting her



miscarriages by hitting her • pours boiling water on his children’s feet

to punish them




to punish them • almost kills Kambili when he discovers

she has disobeyed him




to punish them • almost kills Kambili when he discovers

she has disobeyed him • gives large sums of money to the church

and the poor (pp. 44 and 54), including half his fortune when he dies


• criticises the military coup through his newspaper



• is poisoned by his wife – point

Explain – physically she is of a smaller stature than Eugene and the reader gets the impression that she cannot defend herself from Eugene's aggressive behaviour towards her. This could also be a comment on the role of married women in Nigerian society. I could argue that poisoning someone is an act of covert violence.



• is poisoned by his wife QUOTE - [Aunty Ifeoma] said once that Papa

was too much of a colonial product. She had said this in a mild, forgiving way, as if it were not Papa’s fault, as one would talk about a person who was shouting gibberish from a severe case of malaria.

(Kambili, p. 13


QUOTE - He lowered the kettle into the tub, tilted it toward my feet. He poured the hot water on my feet, slowly, as if he were conducting an experiment and wanted to see what would happen.

(Kambili, p. 194

Papa thinks that

Papa thinks that

• his strict view of Roman Catholicism is the only way to live

Papa thinks that


• Nigerian traditionalists (like his father), who worship idols, will go to hell

Papa thinks that



• he must punish his wife and children severely if they stray in the smallest way from his instructions

Papa thinks that



• he must punish his wife and children severely if they stray in the smallest way from his instructions

• governments should be democratically elected

Papa thinks that

• ‘godless’ coups are disastrous for the people of Nigeria

Papa thinks that

• ‘godless’ coups are disastrous for the people of Nigeria

• rich people should give generously to the less well-off, as he does (Christian charity)

Adichi presents Papa


• entirely through Kambili’s narrative


• entirely through Kambili’s narrative • as a complex man of many parts — kind,

tender and generous but also violent, volatile and uncompromising

To recapitulate

Papa is violent but counters this side of character by showing 'love'.

To recapitulate


Adichie’s subtle characterisation ensures that we also see Papa giving money to the poor and to his church (pp. 5, 90, 297)

To recapitulate


Adichie’s subtle characterisation ensures that we also see Papa giving money to the poor and to his church (pp. 5, 90, 297) and frequently has Kambili describe an affectionate loving relationship with her father (pp. 8 and 41).

To recapitulate

She also shows Papa working behind the scenes — in a way his daughter is only loosely aware of but the reader is meant to notice — to maintain a momentum of objection to the military coup (first mentioned on p. 24)

To recapitulate

It is after the attack on Kambili (which puts her, badly injured, in hospital) that Mama finally realises that this situation cannot go on.

To recapitulate

It is after the attack on Kambili (which puts her, badly injured, in hospital) that Mama finally realises that this situation cannot go on. She poisons Papa’s tea (p. 290) over several weeks and he is already ill with the effects of it on Palm Sunday as the novel opens (p. 6).

To recapitulate

Papa behaves as he does partly because he genuinely believes — or has convinced himself — that this is what the Roman Catholic faith requires.

To recapitulate

Papa behaves as he does partly because he genuinely believes — or has convinced himself — that this is what the Roman Catholic faith requires. And he claims to admire democracy and European ways. In fact, Adichie makes it clear that, although he does not realise it, his dictatorial behaviour at home is much like that of the African dictators.

To recapitulate

Papa behaves as he does partly because he genuinely believes — or has convinced himself — that this is what the Roman Catholic faith requires. And he claims to admire democracy and European ways. In fact, Adichie makes it clear that, although he does not realise it, his dictatorial behaviour at home is much like that of the African dictators. He is an extremist. And he has a controlling personality.

To recapitulate

Papa’s near-fatal attack on Kambili (pp. 210–11) happens just after the murder of Ade Coker and Papa’s great guilt. Can you work out a connection?

Which do you find the more disturbing: Papa’s planned, careful scalding of Kambili’s feet (pp. 194–95) or the angry kicking which puts her in hospital (pp. 210–11)? Why?

Finally

How far does Eugune sin?

Finally

How far does Eugune sin? For example, Papa is evidently quite greedy

with a fat stomach and bottom (pp. 41 and 101)

Finally


with a fat stomach and bottom (pp. 41 and 101). Also, in spite of himself, he is proud of his achievements and behaves ostentatiously in church (pp. 4–5).

Finally


with a fat stomach and bottom (pp. 41 and 101). Also, in spite of himself, he is proud of his achievements and behaves ostentatiously in church (pp. 4–5). And when he attacks Kambili after discovering that she has a drawing of her deceased heathen grandfather, he becomes angry and ‘out of control’ (p. 210)

Finally


with a fat stomach and bottom (pp. 41 and 101). Also, in spite of himself, he is proud of his achievements and behaves ostentatiously in church (pp. 4–5). And when he attacks Kambili after discovering that she has a drawing of her deceased heathen grandfather, he becomes angry and ‘out of control’ (p. 210) as he kicks her and talks continually ‘in a mix of Igbo and English’.

Finally

How far does Eugune sin? Thus, Papa condemns roundly in his children

the urges he cannot control in himself. Adichie observes and depicts this complex mindset precisely and convincingly.

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Papa's cruelty - · PDF filePapa's cruelty burning their feet (pp. 194–95). He does not help his sister, Ifeoma, who is so clearly in need, although she jokes bitterly about his