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Character quotes from Purple Hibiscus
Mama - Beatrice Achike - “there was so much that she did not mind.” (p. 19) - “She spoke the way a bird eats, in small amounts.” (p. 20) - Always submits to Eugene, e.g. when she has morning sickness asks to stay in the car, but when re-questioned by him, she submits and comes in. He controls her almost like a benign dictator – not even needing to command her. - She usually speaks in a whisper p123 - She feels terrible when her children are punished by Eugene but is too fearful of him to do anything – until later - Her response – parallels many people under tyranny – although she begins to resist - After Kambili and Jaja have been staying with IFeoma for a while, she comes down. P. 248 She had been pregnant again – and after another beating, miscarried and was taken to hospital. When she gets back, she takes Eugene’s money and gets a taxi to Nsukka. - However – she is still weak – when Eugene speaks to her on the phone she says they are going back home: “she looked possessed by a different demon” 250. She continues to justify to Ifeoma why Eugene is a good man – she can see his good intentions and excuses his behaviour through stress - 290 – Mama confesses “I started putting poison in his tea before I came to Nsukka. Sisi got it for me; her uncle is a powerful witch doctor.” – this was an act of desperation – and her response is calm, as if she expected to be found out - Afterwards, she is forever changed. She doesn’t care about her appearance p 296, her skin is speckled with blackheads, she writes letters to newspapers saying she killed him – she is mentally unstable
Papa – Eugene Achike • “Papa deserved praise for not choosing to have more sons with another woman, of course, for not choosing to take a second wife. But then, Papa was different. I wished Mama would not compare him to Mr Ezendu, with anybody; it lowered him, soiled him.” (p.20) • “Papa
Mama - Beatrice Achike - “there was so much that she did not mind.” (p. 19) - “She spoke the way a bird eats, in small amounts.” (p. 20) - Always submits to Eugene, e.g. when she has morning sickness asks to stay in the car, but when re-questioned by him, she submits and comes in. He controls her almost like a benign dictator – not even needing to command her. - She usually speaks in a whisper p123 - She feels terrible when her children are punished by Eugene but is too fearful of him to do anything – until later - Her response – parallels many people under tyranny – although she begins to resist - After Kambili and Jaja have been staying with IFeoma for a while, she comes down. P. 248 She had been pregnant again – and after another beating, miscarried and was taken to hospital. When she gets back, she takes Eugene’s money and gets a taxi to Nsukka. - However – she is still weak – when Eugene speaks to her on the phone she says they are going back home: “she looked possessed by a different demon” 250. She continues to justify to Ifeoma why Eugene is a good man – she can see his good intentions and excuses his behaviour through stress - 290 – Mama confesses “I started putting poison in his tea before I came to Nsukka. Sisi got it for me; her uncle is a powerful witch doctor.” – this was an act of desperation – and her response is calm, as if she expected to be found out - Afterwards, she is forever changed. She doesn’t care about her appearance p 296, her skin is speckled with blackheads, she writes letters to newspapers saying she killed him – she is mentally unstable
Papa – Eugene Achike • “Papa deserved praise for not choosing to have more sons with another woman, of course, for not choosing to take a second wife. But then, Papa was different. I wished Mama would not compare him to Mr Ezendu, with anybody; it lowered him, soiled him.” (p.20) • “Papa