Adversity In Purple Hibiscus

“An abuser can seem emotionally needy. You can get caught in a trap of catering to him,trying to fill a bottomless pit. He will just keep coming up with more demands because he believes his needs are your responsibility, until you feel drained down to nothing.’’ -Goodreads.com In Purple Hibiscus, Papa couldn’t love him himself , so he sought loved from his family in the wrong ways. Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie wrote about Kambili and her family experiencing life changing events and physical as well as emotionally abuse.

In the beginning of Purple Hibiscus, Kambili’s adversities do not elicit talents she never knew she had, which disproves Horaces’ argument that adversity leads to positive change. Once such an example , would be when papa beats

An example of this, would be when Papa Nnkwu died and Kambili took home a painting of him. Amacka painted a picture of him and gave it to Kambili to have. Kambili knew that her father did not allow nothing of a heathen in their house. Kambili was brutally punished for this. “The stinging was raw even more like bites, because the metal landed on open skin on my side, my back, my legs’’. While in Nsukka Kambili experiences changes how she thinks. The time spent in Nsukka, Kambili questions how at Aunty Ifeoma’s she can be herself compared to at home. Bringing the painting home Kambili knew she would face consequences . Papa kicked Kambili , and whipped her until she was unconscious. In the situation of papa dying Kambili brought the portrait home , something she probably would’ve never did if not in the situation. Another example, of how Kambili’s adversities do elicit talents she never knew she had, is when Mama came to Nsukka. After papa, beat Kambili, Kambili and Jaja went to Nsukka with Aunty Ifeoma. Soon after , they arrived Mama came bruised and in pain. Mama had lost another baby. In the text Kambili says, “But I lowered myself and sat next to her our shoulders touching”. Kambili feels sympathy for Mama she realizes Mama goes through more than she thought. Papa broke a table against Mama’s stomach

Kambili and jaja takes a trip to Nsskua after finding out Aunty Ifeoma was leaving to go to America and Father Amadi is leaving to Germany. Kambili builds up the confidence to finally tell Father Amadi how she feels. On page 276, Kambili says “We got into his car, I said I love you. You are almost sixteen, Kambili, you are beautiful. You will find more love than you will need in a lifetime.” Kambili feels rejected as if Father Amadi was wrong and he doesn’t know what he is talking about. In the beginning of Purple Hibiscus, Kambili would’ve never told Father Amadi she loved him or even try to explain her feelings for him. Overtime, she grew the confidence and was able to outgrow her shyness and express how she truly feels by telling him she loves him. Even after what Father Amadi said Kambili told herself it was still okay to love him. Another instance , when Kambili’s adversities elicited talents she never knew she had is when papa died. When Papa came to Nsskua to get Jaja and Kambili , she could tell he was sick and noticed the hives growing on his face. When they returned home Kambili thought Papa was getting a little better , but he still was not himself. When Jaja and Kambili went back to Nsskua , Mama called and said Papa is dead. Mama explained that they did an autopsy and found poison in his system.