In the novel Purple Hibiscus there are a large variety of characters, each with their own individual complexities and nuances, however possibly the most intriguingly complex and compelling of the characters is Eugene Achike whom Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie has brilliantly depicted as much more than just a simple villain. Eugene Achike brings to mind a quote from Tom Hiddleston, “Every villain is a hero in his own mind” which perfectly summarises Eugene in a single sentence. Eugene Achike is complex in the fact that he does everything in extremes, at home he will go to cruel lengths to ensure his family is perfect and wholly Catholic but to the outside world he is the epitome of a good Samaritan, both of these sides of him will be elaborated on …show more content…
And then I screamed. “That is what you do to yourself when you walk in sin. You burn your feet,” he said.” this is an excerpt from the novel from when Papa poured boiling water onto Kambili's feet because he wanted her to repent for sleeping inside the same house as a heathen, her grand father whom Papa broke ties with because he refused to convert to Catholicism. Papa is has been extremely influenced by colonial, western culture and believes it is far superior to traditional Nigerian Igbo culture as such he affects a British accent and avoids speaking Igbo. “Papa changed his accent as he spoke, sounding British, just as he did when he spoke to Father Benedict.” All this however paints him as a wholly cruel person, a simple villain, Adichie however wrote Papa too intricately for that and in doing so created a much more complex character by also giving him startlingly good qualities that starkly contrast with his cruelty at