Purple Hibiscus Essay

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To what extremes will people go for religion? In Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s Purple Hibiscus, there is an evident example in which we see how much power, religion really has. Main character, Kambili speaks of her extremely Catholic Nigerian father, Eugene, whom is also an authoritarian abusive father and husband. Kambili narrates the many internal and external conflicts she experiences throughout the novel due to the institutionalized Catholicism her family and her were exposed to. Eugene shows the power of religion when as he almost hits Jaja, hits his wife and kids with a belt, and pours boiling hot water on Kambili all with the excuse of wanting to save them.
Adichie starts off by giving her audience the abusive environment in which Kamibili lives in. As the narrative continues, Adichie ironically introduced her audience to Eugene, as a wealthy, righteous and charitable Catholic. After realizing his son, Jaja, did not go up to receive communion, Eugene waits to get home to punish his son. Eugene explains to Jaja the importance of the host, “It is the body of our …show more content…

Their father’s teachings do not seem to apply in their house. Jaja and Kambili admit to feeling out of place, for they have been raised in an extremely strict household and now feel liberated. Kambili then comes home to her upset father, Eugene, who awaits her in the bathtub. Kambili is filled with fear as she sees the kettle they use to boil water. Eugene pours the boiling hot water on Kambili’s feet. Eugene explains, “That is what you do to yourself when you walk into sin. You burn your feet.” (194). Catholics believe that sin will lead to hell. Without reconciliation, it is believed one is in great danger (“Roman Catholicism”) . The power religion has in Eugene’s life is tremendous as he has no sympathy in harming his children for the sake of his religious

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