Purple Hibiscus Father Quotes

Father Amadi’s Benefit to Kambili’s Life In the novel Purple Hibiscus, by Chimananda Ngozi Adichie, the main character, Kambili, has an abusive father, and she is trying to figure herself out through her brother and other family members. However, she doesn't know if it is more important to be herself or to please her father's unrealistic expectations. Kambili meets a young Nigerian priest named Father Amadi; he teaches her how to find herself, and suddenly she falls in love with him. When they first meet, Kambili is a shy girl who isn't sure who she is, and as time passes, their relationship starts to become inappropriate. Although Father Amadi took advantage of Kambili’s vulnerability, his actions helped her find her voice. Father Amadi

Father Amadi is a Catholic priest so in Kambili’s life it gives her a sense of what other Catholics are like. Although Father Amadi likes Igbo music as well. In the car, “ Father Amadi stopped to join in on the chorus.” ‘I na-asi esona ya! I na-asi m esona ya!’ I nodded to the chorus” (179). From this little tune, Kambili realized that religion does not have to be as intense as her father makes it. Through this he helps her come out of her shell by making her laugh for the first time in her life, singing Igbohis positive, life-affirming practice of Catholicism. He has her run to show her love for God. music in the car, and wearing lipstick, running on a field. This is one of the first times that Kambili rebelled against her father and when her father said to go do her studying instead she started doodling: ”On others, I formed the letters of his name using Roman

When Kambili and Father Amadi go to the soccer field, this is the first time they have been together alone. After running with Father Amadi, he says “you have good legs for running. You should practice more’ he said'' (176). Running is a prominent symbol in Kambili’s case. It is like a sense of freedom so after Kambili ran after Father Amadi she felt she could let everything go and just have fun in the moment. When Amadi took her to get her hair braided, Kambili saw this snail and the snail just wanted to get out of the basket, but the lady braiding Kambili's hair put him back in. After that, Kambili wants to set the snail free because she can’t be free, but she ends up not doing it. After she braided she thought she “wanted to buy the whole basket and set that one snail free” (238) At this point, Kambili wants freedom more than anything, but she still wants to be loyal to her father at the same time. When all of Ifeoma’s family goes for a picnic on the hill, this is the first time that Kambili feels free to express herself by taking her shoes off and running. Outside when she has her shoes off, the warm soft grass is in between her toes, and when she is at home with her bare feet out the wood is hard.

After Ifeoma talks to her, “I took off, too, feeling the wind rush past my ears. Running made me think of Father Amadi”