Together with members of your group and students in other sections, you’ll be reading Purple Hibiscus over the next several weeks. Although you're not required to take notes while you read, it would be wise to keep track of important events and characters for your own clarification. You are, however, expected to participate regularly and thoughtfully in an online discussion of seven essential questions.
Here's how it works:
Divide your book into two roughly equal halves. You need to have read and blogged about your book by the due dates below.
- There are two kinds of posts in this discussion: responses and comments.
- Post at least SIX responses altogether: at least THREE for the 1st half of reading and at least THREE for the 2nd half.
- You must respond to at least five essential questions over the course of your reading.
- You may respond to only two questions more than once.
- One of your six responses can be a "free response" post.
- Post at at least TEN comments altogether: at least FIVE for the 1st half of reading and at least FIVE for the 2nd half.
- In addition, you will post at least ONE response to the essential question about The Whipping Man (production at the Portland Stage Company on March 4) and ONE comment on someone else's response by March 4. [Note: If you do not attend this production, you will need to post an additional comment and response to the book questions.]
Due dates:
- Post your response to the essential question about The Whipping Man and your comment on someone else's response by TUESDAY, MARCH 10.
- Post your first three responses to the book and five comments by THURSDAY, MARCH 12.
- Post your final three responses to the book and five comments by THURSDAY, MARCH 26.
- How do the characters assert their individuality within a repressive society?
- Where do the characters find sources of inspiration in their lives?
- How are the characters affected by events/changes in society?
- How is the practice of veiling (or restrictions on dress in general) reflective of cultural attitudes toward gender roles? How do these attitudes affect characters’ lives?
- How does our cultural background shape our perception of women and the practice of veiling (or wearing a head scarf) in other countries?
- How do the characters’ personal stories expand your understanding of the societies in which they live?
- Should there be one standard for gender equality throughout the world? Why or why not?
Essential Question for The Whipping Man:
Why might a play like The Whipping Man be important and relevant for contemporary society? What current issues in politics, ethics, and international relations are paralleled or echoed by events and themes in The Whipping Man?
Assessment: To earn maximum credit, post thoughtful responses that are at least a short paragraph in length—and carefully proofread! Do not misspell characters' or authors’ names! Also, be sure to include specific references to the text (either details or short quotations).
The Whipping Man Response
ReplyDeleteThe Whipping Man is relevant to contemporary society due to it’s underlying questions that allow the audience to learn more about themselves through out the process of the show. The real question of just who the ‘whipping man’ is placed into the mind of the audience to later debate with themselves and wrestle with. To me, the whipping man is everyone, including ourselves. The idea that we punish others, as well as ourselves for certain actions is a common theme within the play. It is clear that the scapegoat concept is also present throughout the entire play. Often, John was beaten and used as a scapegoat, as well as slaves in general were used as a scapegoat. It wasn’t uncommon for slaves to be whipped for the mistakes of their owners and others.
Current issues in international relations that parallel the events and themes in The Whipping Man can be seen in just about any racial, religious, or any type of minority. It is more often than not that minorities are framed in a biased manner and are often subjected to the ‘whipping man’ or the punisher. One of the biggest accounts that reflects this that stands out in my life is the casualties of innocent muslims in the Middle East after 9/11. Due to the wars and prejudice caused by 9/11, over 100,000 civilian casualties have been recorded due to the ‘whipping man’. Although I feel as though I have some grasp on the underlying meaning of the play, I still wrestle with ideas reflecting from the play and trying to decode it further. This play truly makes the audience think, and demands more than just your attention.
FROM ANITA:
ReplyDeleteI think that The Whipping Man is still relevant in today's society for a lot of reasons, and I think that it's always going to be an important play to watch. For starters, this play is our history, it's something that the US went through, and it's something that the future generations need to learn, or else we could risk going through turmoil like that again. Secondly, many of the concepts that Simon talked about regarding slavery are very much a part of daily life now. How many of us know someone that are "slave" to alcohol, or an injury. I feel like there's probably something that each and every one of us are "slave'" to, and I think that this play does a remarkable job of reminding us of that. I also think that there have been countless 'Whipping Men' throughout history. Anyone who has ever oppressed somebody, anyone who has ever hurt somebody because they're different. Don't those people count as well? There are still 'Whipping Men' in society today. John taught us that beating them back only hurts you. So the question that I'm left with after watching this play is how do you deal with oppressors? It's a question this play brought up, and a question that will always be relevant.
I totally agree that we are all slaves to something. This is a very big issue at present in our society and is very restricting to our lives. I think if we didn't feel enslaved by as many things life would be a lot better and more enjoyable.
DeleteI think that The Whipping Man is very relevant to our current society. In the play Simon talks about how everyone is a slave to something. I agree with this completely. Most people are slaves to their phones or computers and would have trouble going just a day without them. There are also many people who are slaves to other things such as alcohol, drugs or their bodies like Caleb was. As a current event there is still a lot of racism and judgement because of people’s religion. Though there is a lot less than there was in the The Whipping Man it is still a big part of our lives. The play helps us remember what our country has been through.
ReplyDeleteI agree that slavery doesn't only deal with people, but also objects. We seem to be drawn to all kinds of technology. This is hurting our social skills because our generation has trouble keeping a conversation, making eye contact ect. Today our society usually choses to talk over text not phone call.
DeleteI think that the comparison between slavery and modern society's addiction to technology is a great one. We pay to have these things, and they just take away from our lives by distracting us. I also agree with the fact that racism is still prevalent in modern society, although today I feel most racism stems from being ignorant of other religions/races, rather than a feeling of inherent superiority like it used to be.
DeleteTim, you make a valid point about racism and its prevalence in our society and the way in which it has changed throughout time. I do still believe that some people feel superior to others, and although it may not be classified as racism, it is a real issue that many groups of people still deal with on a day to day basis.
DeleteThe core concept of The Whipping Man is still very relevant to our society today and always will be. The question we have to ask ourselves is "just who is the whipping man?". That is the question that we, as a society, will always have to ask. Sometimes as we ask this it reveals that WE are actually the ones doing the whipping and it should guide us away from that. It's a lot like when John reminds Caleb of the time that Caleb whipped him. Caleb realizes that he was quite literally the whipping man and he has to live with that. Outside of our individual lives, this concept remains constant, and is particularly true in politics. For example, in the Congo, large oil companies have taken land rich in oil with no one to answer to. The country's government has been weakened by war and was unable to defend its land from these huge companies. In this case, it is very clear who the whipping man is, the oil companies had power and the Congolese people did not. While I do not know if the oil companies will have to face repercussions for their actions, many people who act as 'the whipping man' do. An example of this would be John having to hide because he murdered his whipping man.
ReplyDeleteI agree with your points about large oil companies that take over oil rich land in powerless countries, and how they are today's form of a "whipping man". There are so many cases of things like this going on in the world today. My only question is what will the consequences be if the government of Congo fights back against these companies.
DeleteThe play The Whipping Man is relevant for our current society. The play brings forward two messages that are very important for students to learn. Being raised in the twenty first century, our generation does not understand the stories of slaves. The majority of people here at Mt. Ararat are Caucasian so our families have not dealt with the scars of slavery. It is hard to put ourselves in slaves shoes because we have never experienced anything like it. The play showed the pain in slavery and how bad African Americans were treated. This should serve as a warning to our society and a message to never go back to slavery. The Whipping Man also serves as a history lesson. The play took place during the Civil War. The Whipping Man was relatable because it came directly from U.S. History. From the play I learned the living conditions and the torment people went through during the war. The actors at Portland Stage company did research on what life was like during the Civil War. This added a whole other aspect because the set and props looked like they were from the Civil War era. Countries all around the world are home to citizens that do not have equal rights. This is also a theme in The Whipping Man, the inequality was slavery. Middle East countries do not give women the rights that the U.S. does. Here is the U.S. women have the right to education and voting, however over in the Middle East they are limited to the basics. Women do not have the right to choose who they marry, their parents arrange their marriage. Similar to slavery it is hard to imagine women not having basic rights because I live in a country where they are equal to men.
ReplyDeleteSo how do we overcome these inequalities? What can people or groups of people do to show support for those who are treated unfairly? I think you make some good points about how we can not be as concerned about inequalities because we are fortunate enough to live in a country where, seemingly, most everyone is treated equally.
DeleteThe Whipping Man Response
ReplyDeleteI believe that The Whipping Man is still relevant to todays society for a few key reasons. Even though slavery is Illegal now in many places around the world, people can still be slaves to something. For example many high school students feel like they are slaves to the idea of being an A+ student. People can also become slaves to things like cigarets, alcohol, or drugs. Secondly the play is about OUR history. This was the great country of America 150 years ago. These kinds events should not be forgotten and I believe pieces of literature like The Whipping Man are one of the best ways to remember them. Lastly there are still countless numbers of “whipping men” in society today. As one of the actors stated, even if we fight back against our own whipping man like he did, we will still have to face consequences. The only question is what might those consequences be? That’s why I believe The Whipping Man is still pertinent in current society.
2) The main characters Jaja and Kambili find sources of inspiration in their lives while living with their Aunt Ifeoma and her family. Kambili is in constant awe of how a family can exhibit so much happiness, love, and laughter all in one cozy bundle. She admires Amaka’s confidence and defiance, as well as both her and Aunt Ifeoma’s ability to freely speak and make conversation. They are able to challenge authority and enjoy the precious moments spent within their daily lives. Meanwhile, Jaja admires Obiora. He is appears to be mature and wise, despite his being three years younger than Jaja. Since his father’s death Obiora has taken on the role as the “man of the household”. He took part in ritual of the rite of manhood within the Igbo culture. This inspires Jaja and makes him long for the feeling of confidence and independence that Obiora constantly seems to exude. Jaja finds solace within Aunty Ifeoma’s gardens, spending time doing something he finally wants to do, instead of following a meticulous schedule. The spirit of their cousins as they blend both their Nigerian culture, with theirr Catholic religion and appreciative lifestyle, cause both Jaja and Kambili to reconsider how they have been living up to this point. It sparks something inside them that gives them hope of life without the bleak borders of Papa’s control.
ReplyDeleteI strongly agree with this response. Kambili looks up to Aunty Ifeoma as a role model because she shows traits that her father lacks like freedom.
DeleteI agree with your response. Kambili looks up to her aunt, Ifeoma, because she is free spirited. She has no troubles with expressing her opinion and making conversation with people.
Delete4) Restrictions on dress, specifically within this book, derive from the culture of strict Catholicism. Mixed with the concept of wraps with the Nigerian culture, hair must be covered when in church, and a woman should dress modestly, at all times possible. Makeup is also not regarded as being particularly proper. Not only does Kambili feel the responsibility to make these restrictions on her appearance, because that is her religion, but she also feels as though she must do these things to earn love from her father. He views his children with such pride when they do as they have been told, especially by religious standards. Papa feels as though he has done a successful job raising his children to please the lord, and he always aims for this goal. When Kambili and Jaja left for Aunty Ifeoma’s, Kambili was questioned by her aunt if perhaps she would feel more relaxed and at ease dressed in pants. Her thoughts were, “I wondered why I did not tell her that all my skirts stopped well past my knees, that I did not own any trousers because it was sinful for a women to wear trousers.” (80) Also, with the matter of covering her hair, Kambili reflects, “Once, Papa had hugged me proudly, kissed my forehead, because Father Benedict had told him that my hair was always properly covered for Mass, that I was not like the other young girls in church who let some of their hair show, as if they did not know that exposing your hair in church was ungodly.” (100) These are both examples of how women are suppressed in this Nigerian Catholic society within Enugu. Unlike in the university town of Nsukka, where her cousin Amaka and her friends wear makeup and tight fitting clothes that proudly showcase their bodies. These restrictions make women seem inferior to males, like they have to be hidden; they should not boast about themselves, or their bodies, and should rely on their husbands, always pleasing them. Among other reasons, this is one reason why Kambili is so withdrawn and quiet from the rest of the community.
ReplyDeleteI agree with everything that you've just said, (and you said it very well) I also think that Kambili might be doing these things so well out of fear for her father. While even she might rationalize with herself that its out of love, I think that she does fear her father.
DeleteI agree with the fear of her father dying- she knows what he is capable of doing and fears experiencing it first hand. However, that fear doesn't last forever.
Delete7) Yes, I do believe that there should be one standard for gender equality throughout the entirety of the world. That standard should be that there really is NO standard. Men and women should not be subject to expectations and limits regarding what they can and cannot do. Gender should not matter when it comes to equality, period. In the post-colonial city Enugu of Nigeria, at least in the Achike family, the man, in this case Papa, is seen as the dominant figure. He has jurisdiction over the complete household, down to the individual minutes that Jaja and Kambili spend on each daily activity. Their mother feels as though her husband, Eugene (Papa), is what keeps her family together. She believes there is no other way to live, and that without her husband all would be lost. She sees his role as the husband and as the dominant masculine gender role in the family to be very crucial and important. She subjects herself to harsh beatings, and even ultimately miscarriages at his hand. He is the man of the household, and what he says, goes. However, Aunty Ifeoma says ‘Sometimes life begins when marriage ends.’ (75) She realizes that this imbalance of power within the Achike household is unhealthy, and that gender roles and control should take no part in determining how one should live their life. She is right, for it shouldn’t. A woman doesn’t need the control and dominance of a husband to have a content and satisfactory life. Each individual has the potential to go above and beyond, and gender should not outline the type of life an individual should live.
ReplyDelete"Each individual has the potential to go above and beyond, and gender should not outline the type of life an individual should live." Such a powerful statement! Should equality be limited to just gender equality however, or do you believe it could outstretch further to something more?
Delete#1) Within Purple Hibiscus, many characters are able to express their individuality, however, the main character, Kambili struggles to express her individuality. Through out the first half of the novel, Kambili goes unspoken in expressing how she truly feels on matters due to her upbringing in a tightly ran Catholic family. One of the best examples of this is on page 136, Kambili knows that Father Amadi’s words were addressing both her and her brother, but she allows Jaja to speak for her, never expressing herself. Her mother also shares this passive voice and never clearly speaks up for herself in situations where it’s important that she does. However, it isn’t just because they’re females that they act like this. An example of a strong-willed, outspoken female is Amaka, who never seems to hold back her remarks. Even while dining with Kambili’s father, she speaks openly and consistently to him, something Kambili has never been able to do with her father. On top of this, Amaka’s mother, Aunty Ifeoma has no problem speaking up as well, and even tests her brother’s nerves on multiple occasions, speaking out of turn and in a rude manner. One of the best examples of this would be during the Christmas meal they share together, when she openly speaks about how disrespectful he is towards their father. I feel like that because of the tight ship Kambili’s father runs, she has never learned to be an individual. This is to be expected though, considering every moment of her life is scheduled, as well as her father’s expectations on how she much act. Aunty Ifeoma and Amaka, on the other hand, live in a different, more free environment that has allowed them to be more of individuals, rather than conforming to what others want them to be.
ReplyDeleteDo you think Kambili struggles to express her individually at Aunty Ifeoma's house?
DeleteIn the beginning, yes. She has never had the chance to express herself prior to going to Aunty Ifeoma's house, so she truly doesn't know who she is- or who she wants to be. Over time, she learns how to express herself both at Aunty's, and at home- although that doesn't end well for her.
Delete#3) Changes in society, or within their personal lives have a great affect on the characters within Purple Hibiscus. Nearly all changes are regarded with the same uncertainty by all characters within the novel. Then, slowly over time, the acceptance of the change slowly starts to prevail and occur without too much fuss. However, Kambili is more conservative in her ways and change seems to wear her down more than others. Upon being told that Jaja and Kambili would be spending five days with their Aunt, both were unsure and didn’t like the idea, due to the fact that neither of them had ever spent more than a day away from their father. “I watch Kevin leave, and suddenly my chest felt tight. I wanted to run after him, to tell him to wait while I got my back and got back in the car.” Kambili’s initial reaction was to try and run back to leave with Kevin. However, after sticking it out, things seem to get better... for Jaja. Kambili describes how Jaja slowly begins to fit in with Aunty Ifeoma and her family. Jaja plays football with them in the yard, as well as participates in watching the television with the family at night. On top of this, Jaja also shares the real story on just how he lost part of his finger with Aunty Ifeoma- something he didn’t usually tell anyone. However, although Jaja finds comfort in the new part-time home, Kambili does not. She is constantly putting up with the harassment of Aunty Ifeoma’s daughter, Amaka, who constantly finds the need to make comments upon Kambili’s high life style. Kambili does not know how to adapt to change due to her sheltered life.
ReplyDelete
ReplyDelete#7) Although it would be a utopian-style idea to have gender equality through-out the world, it is also unrealistic. Personally, I would support a set standard of equality that put everyone at an equal level, regardless of race, gender, sexuality, and so on. However, I respect the fact that some religions and cultures do not allow gender equality, and some men and women are perfectly content with that and accept it due to tradition. I believe there should be a set equality standard through out the world, but have cultures have the option to apply them, as I understand it would not fit many sets of beliefs. However, the level of inequality portrayed within the novel is heartbreaking. The fact that ‘Papa’ is such a dominant figure within the Achike family, is one thing. This wouldn’t be so bad, if it wasn’t for the violent outcomes of this role. Only half way through the novel, the reader has learned that Papa has ruined Jaja’s little finger, hit Kambili,beaten his wife that has led to miscarriages, and also hit all of them with a belt. Although I understand some cultures accept putting the man at the head of a household, it is fine by me until it physically or mentally hurts someone else. The fact that Aunty Ifeoma says that “Sometimes life begins when marriage ends” (page 75) says quite a bit about how well wives can be treated in Nigerian marriages. Overall, this novel uses domestic violence to highlight aspects of lack of gender equality within the Nigerian setting.
I personally have a bit of a hard time respecting the idea that some cultures don't have gender equality. While I respect the culture as a whole. I can't bring myself to respect the idea that women should be subservient to men. I agree that some parts of those cultures can be beautiful, but I don't think that I could ever respect the women's roles in those cultures.
DeleteI know a few practicing muslims from Pakistan who have told me multiple times that they are perfectly okay and enjoy the difference in gender roles such as her serving her future husband. I respect it, although I do not feel as though it would personally be for me.
DeleteIf a woman makes a choice to do so, then I respect them for doing what they like. It's not the women I have a hard time respecting, it's the societal norm that says it must be this way. I think that it's fine for women to want to serve their husbands if that's what they really want. However, I think that women doing it only because it's what's expected of them in their culture is wrong.
DeleteWell said Anita! I agree 100% with your opinion on this. Like Taylor, I agree that it is a woman's choice to do as they please, even if this means subjecting themselves to limitations within their culture. However, you certainly hit the nail on the head when you said, "I think that women doing it only because it's what's expected of them in their culture is wrong." Sometimes I believe that women in this type of situation simply act the way they do; going along with all of the rules, because they know of no other way. They have never experienced what it is like to live a free life where they can bloom to be whatever they desire. If women make the choice to subject themselves to a limiting gender equality situation, then they should have the opportunity to be well educated on the matter.
Delete6. Kambili and Jaja's experience with Christianity taught me a lot about how violent that situation could be. Because Christianity tells to love thy neighbor, and be kind to others, it was an eye opener to see the faith taken so out of hand by Kambili and Jaja's father. I feel like their father was so adamant because he believed that the former African society of worshipping gods, and joyous worshipping was something that he wanted to run from. I think that his overuse of religion was because he was scared to turn into the native version of his African society. Kambili and Jaja's story also taught how subservient women are supposed to be in their society. Even though Kambili's mother wants to stop the abuse that her children are suffering, she is powerless to help them, as she has no standing in their household. Similarly, Kambili's aunt is criticized for being independent and standing up for herself. While I knew that women were supposed to be subservient, the amount to which this was true, I was shocked at how far this reached, which made the few women that did stand up for themselves all the more impressive.
ReplyDelete1.
ReplyDeleteEach of the characters in Purple Hibiscus react differently to their own oppression within society. Kambili is the most passive. She follows Papa’s rules to a tee in the first chapters of the book, and only wishes to gain his respect after she fails him by placing only second in her school. Mama is only slightly less inclined to follow the rules, as she does bring in Kambili’s uniform from outside before it rains. While this seems very minor, it is still on some level defiance. Perhaps not direct defiance against Papa, but definitely against a society that says it is wrong for adults to do chores. The men in the family are more open in their defiance. Jaja directly and very obviously defies Papa by not going to church to receive communion. Maybe it’s like father like son, because Papa is certainly in open defiance of the government. As part of The Standard, Papa delivers scathing reports on the government to the public. I think he is the most aggressive in his resistance to oppression because he wields power, whereas the rest of his family remains in a powerless state under his crushing patriarchal rule.
I think that Kambili does rebel in her own little way. When she meets the priest, she forms an attachment to him, and I feel like Papa would certainly not approve of this connection. For starters, I don't think that Papa would approve of the priest, as he's not the type of priest that Papa strives to be. He's happy, he's smiley, and he's overall not as severe as Papa wants a priest to be. Secondly, he is, in fact, a priest, and the idea that Kambili would like a priest is ungodly, and I think that by her forming this special bond with him, she's rebelling against her father in a passive way, but it's rebellion nonetheless.
DeleteI agree that most of the act of rebellion so far throughout the book are fairly minor. I think that since they are so used to living with such strict rules, doing something even the slightest bit rebellious seems like a very big deal and is treated like one as well.
Delete7.) I definitely believe in gender equality. In this book, some of the most powerful figures were women. Kambili's aunt especially was powerful. She lived on her own and provided for her own family as well as helping out her father. All this was on a limited salary. If she has the strength to do all of this, then I don't see a reason why she shouldn't be able to have the same rights as men. In this book there's an obvious sexist theme, but this occurs in daily life here as well. Women still get paid less, and have a lesser opportunity for job security. However, I think that the idea that women and men are perfectly equal is unrealistic. Perfect worlds simply don't exist, and I think that while there's always improving that could and should be done, I don't think that there will ever be an equal world.
ReplyDeleteI believe Aunty Ifeoma was strong rather than powerful. She provided the best environment for her kids considering they had no father. I don't see any way Aunty Ifeoma was powerful, she just had a strong will.
DeleteI think strong would have been a better word, you're right about that.
DeleteQuestion 4:
ReplyDeleteRestrictions on dress originate from orthodox Catholicism. Most of the dress restrictions have to do with female clothing. Females like Kambili have to wear a veil to cover up their face in public. Veils only reveal the females eyes, this way other men do not look upon them lustfully. “ Papa had brought my white lace dress and a soft, layered veil, which the women in Mama’s prayer group touched, crowding me after Mass.” (487) Papa would consider it a sin if Kambili did not cover her face in church. Women also have to dress modestly in public. They are expected to wear long dresses that extend below their knees. It is sinful if a women wears a dress that is shorter than her knees because it suggests sexual advances. Kambili wore shorts at Aunty Ifeoma’s house when she went to the soccer stadium with Father Amadi “ ‘I don’t have shorts, Aunty,’ I said. Aunty Ifeoma did not ask why, perhaps because she already knew. She asked Amaka to lend me a pair of shorts. I expected Amaka to sneer, but she gave me a pair of shorts as if it were normal that I did not have any. I took my time putting on the shorts, but I did not stand in front of the mirror for long, as Amaka did because guilt would nibble at me. Vanity was a sin.” (414) Kambili felt guilt while wearing shorts because she knew Father would punish her if he saw her wearing them.
Since women have strict dressing rules, they are thought of less compared to males. These dressing restrictions hold back Kambili’s true spirit. When Kambili does not follow the dress restrictions at Aunty Ifeoma’s house she seems to be much happier and able to express herself without fear.
Question 5:
ReplyDeleteIn our current culture, women are wearing more and more revealing clothing. This is quite opposite of the situation in middle-eastern countries. In the U.S., popular teenage female clothing consists of yoga pants, short shorts, and V-necks. What is the benefit of wearing this style of clothing? Is it to impress boys? If so, that’s obscene because not only boys are seeing you, your best friends, and your teachers are too. Is that really the impression you want to put on your teacher? I am not saying females need to dress like Kambili does in Enugu, but have some self respect.
When I travel down to Portland and see women from foreign countries wearing veils in public I think uncanny of them. I’m sure I’m not the only one because I’m not used to that style of clothing. I need to learn how respect them because they have different beliefs, and I can not judge them solely on their head dress.
I think that wearing revealing clothing isn't necessarily always done as a way of getting attention. Clothing that is considered revealing is often very comfortable and isn't always worn with the intent to draw attention. Also, when it is warm out short shorts feel a whole lot better than knee length shorts or pants. I definitely understand where you're coming from though.
DeleteThanks for the clarification!! When do you think girls started to wear more revealing clothing? Was is to mimic their favorite celebrity? I get that most girls wear this type of clothing with the goal of not drawing attention; but some, everybody know what their intensions are.
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DeleteWhat a very interesting opinion to pose on this matter Cam! I agree that sometimes girls don't appear to dress appropriate for their age, and sometimes even wear clothing that to us, seems as though they have no idea how to respect themselves. But, maybe to them, those types of revealing outfits is how they feel beautiful. I feel their decisions on dress is mostly based on our countries standards of beauty these days. Many girls feel pressured by advertisements and views of how women are "supposed to look". They may be trying to mimic what they see on televisions, or what their favorite celebrities wear (as you said above). It may be our judgmental attitudes and the pressure in our society to stand out and to be beautiful that causes girls to dress the way they do, not the fact they want to impress boys. In general they might feel like they won't fit in if they don't dress a certain way. Also, it could be comfortable, just like you said Rachel! I'm sure at first glance, many people from other countries look at girls from the U.S. in the same type of light!
DeleteQuestion 7:
ReplyDeleteI believe third world countries like Nigeria should move women’s equality closer to men’s equality. This way women like Kambili and her Mom won’t get treated like property by the head of the house (Papa). If women’s equality in third world countries moves towards that of the U.S., millions of women around the world won’t live with fear. Women could then potentially get an education and contribute to the working class. With more workers, it could perhaps boost the economy and benefit the county as a whole. However this idea is a bit of a stretched because religion and tradition say that women can never be equal to men. Women in the U.S. want gender equality and I don’t blame them, but looking at situations in countries like Nigeria, U.S. women should be thankful that they don’t have to live life like Kambili. This is why gender equality should start in third world countries. I know it would mean a lot to Kambili if her Papa didn’t over power her enough to beat and torture her. Kambili wouldn’t have to worry about making mistakes that resulted in beatings, she could live to its fullest.
3. Events in society definitely had a large affect on the characters in Purple Hibiscus. The biggest and perhaps most obvious event that occurs in the government. The government had seen bloody coups before, and so when the family heard about the coup over the radio during family time, Papa doesn't seem surprised. In fact, he says "Military men would always overthrow one another, because they could, because they were all power drunk"(24). I think the disintegration of the old government is a foreshadowing of what will come of the Achike family. Although this change in government is violent, it did indirectly spare Kambili from one of Papa's beatings. This happens when Kambili is in Papa's room, expecting punishment. However, instead of a punishment, the phone rings, and Papa learns that Ade Coker has been imprisoned. While this saves her from punishment, I think this change in government puts more stress on the Achike family. Since the family is already tense do to Papa's patriarchal oppression, this additional stress will be the undoing of the family.
ReplyDelete6. The author's story, told through the young Kambili's perspective, has certainly increased my understanding of Nigerian society, a topic in which I admit to having very little knowledge in. I had a half formed idea about what life would be like based mostly on stereotypes, or what we, as westerners, see on the news. From what I've read in this book however, that image I had was pretty off. I didn't know about the constant threat of a new coup that the people live with. I didn't know that the military often has to go into villages to prevent protests for democracy. I definitely didn't know about the corruption. Dictators calling themselves presidents, government officials freely giving and taking bribes, road blocks and soldiers that need to be bribed, all of it seems very usual to the characters. That is the most shocking to me because I had no idea how unstable the government was and that anyone with an army and enough charisma to lead them could make themselves "president".
ReplyDelete1.) I've seen at least one comment above about how Kambili was submissive, and didn't seem to have as strong a personality as Jaja, and had a harder time expressing herself. But I think that part of who she is, is someone that wants to please others. I feel like this is a trait that makes up who she is a person. While Kambili and Jaja are both in the same repressive household, Jaja has a much harder time following his father's direction, and I think that that's largely because it's not in his individual nature to do things solely for the pleasure of others. While I think that part of what Kambili does is acting in fear of her father, I also think that she genuinely wants to please him, which is simply part of her nature. It's not just under her father's gaze that she's like this either. At her aunt's house, she tries her best to please everyone, so this leads me to think that her individual personality is a people-pleaser, she wants people to be proud of her, and she wants to make people happy.
ReplyDeleteI agree that Kambil more of a people pleaser than Jaja. She seems like a very passive person who acts out of fear but also just doesn't want to cause any issues for anyone.
DeleteI don't believe that Kambili is submissive. She does what she's told because she has no choice. However, when she gets a chance, at her aunt's house, she wears shorts, instead of a skirt and wears lipstick, something she is definitely not supposed to do. I think this proves her strength, rather than her weakness.
DeleteI agree with Tim, she doesn't have much of a choice. It is clear that later on in the novel, when she disobeys, the punishments are life threatening- thus she keeps herself in line in the beginning.
Delete1) Though the society that the characters live in is very repressive, they find little ways in which to express themselves. Some characters such as Kambil and Jaja live a very repressed life because of their strict father. When they are sent to their aunts over break, Jaja gets to help her in the garden. He doesn’t do this at his house and really enjoys it. By working in the garden with his aunt he is expressing his individuality. Kambil also gets to express herself a bit more while they’re at aunt Ifeoma’s. One say she goes to play soccer and instead of wearing her normal attire of a skirt she borrows a pair of shorts from her cousin and even tries to wear lipstick.
ReplyDeleteI agree that when they go to their aunt's house, they get the chance to express themselves for the first time. That's why I think that this event will be the spark that destroys the Achike family. I think this because they got a taste of freedom for the first time in their lives. Kambili wore something that she would never be able to wear at home, and Jaja got to experience gardening and realizes it's something he loves to do.
Delete2) When Jaja and Kambil return home from Aunty Ifeoma’s they both have a secret present. Kambil was given a painting of her grabndfather that her cousin Obiora painted. Having this painting is an act of defiance towards her father. Even though it is a very small and insignificant thing, it sparks rebellion inside of her. Jaja on the other hand was given so purple hibiscuses to plant. He recently discovered his interest in gardening and by having these flowers he can find a way to do what he loves.
ReplyDeleteI think this is actually a pretty big act of defiance by Kambili. She was only allotted 15 minutes with her grandfather whenever she visits and he isn't allowed inside their home because of his traditionalist values. I think that makes this event rather important, and I think that if she hadn't spent some time with her cousins, and gotten to experience freedom for a short time, then she would have never been brave enough to accept it.
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ReplyDeleteQuestion 5:
ReplyDeleteOur cultural background has severely shaped our perception of women. In society today, women’s clothing is becoming increasing revealing. Clothing like short shorts, belly shirts, yoga pants, skinny jeans and low cut shirts are all designed to show off a woman’s body. As time has progressed this style of clothing has become the more accepted norm. This is not the case in many countries in the Middle East where the woman are covered from head to toe day in and day out. Although Nigeria is not part of the Middle East, but rather of eastern-central Africa, the views around veiling show similarities. When on December vacation Kambili’s aunt Ifeoma suggests that she change into trousers but Kambili says no and the truth is she doesn’t own any as it is sinful for women to wear them and Papa does not allow it. This may not be a form of face covering but the concept is still the same.
What do you think caused fashion to become more revealing?
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Delete4) The female characters in this book are given some restrictions on what they must wear. Kambil has to wear a skirt every day and had never worn shorts until her stay with her aunt. Veiling of women is a way to show their morals and self respect. Their bodies are considered to be only for the eyes of their husbands so veils are supposed to be worn. Kambil breaks the rules when she agrees to wear her cousin’s shorts. She even goes as far as to try to put on makeup which is an extreme act of rebellion for her.
ReplyDeleteI agree that restrictions are placed on the women in this book. Kambili cannot wear pants because her father thinks it is sinful for women. Because he says it is sinful, I think this restriction on appearance is religious. However, I think the veiling of women is more of a traditional thing than a religious one.
DeleteQuestion 1:
ReplyDeleteI believe each of the characters in the book go about expressing their individuality in their own way. The narrator and main character Kambili really doesn’t express her individuality at all in the first half of the novel. She has grown up with her father hanging over her head like a great wrecking ball that’s about to crash down on her as soon as she makes a mistake. For example when she gets her report card and is 2/25 and not 1/25 her father is very unhappy. The next term she works relentlessly to make sure she is number one this time as to avoid confrontation with her father again. Kambili’s father also highly dictates what she wares. He does not allow her to wear pants or makeup. At this point she still doesn’t resist his attempts to beat her down. Jaja on the other hand, begins the novel with an expression of his individuality. He does this by refusing to go to Church on Palm Sunday and receive communion. And then when his father confronts him at home, Jaja talks back to his father. I feel like this is more of a defiant act that is a result of Papa pushing back Kambili and Jaja’s chances of expression than just Jaja expressing his individuality.
Kambil definitely was slow to express herself and doesn't show any real acts of rebellion until her stay with her aunt. During her stay there though she does multiple things that were not allowed by her father even though they weren't really a big deal.
DeleteKambilli and Jaja also don't follow their papa's schedule that he made up for them before they left for Aunty Ifeoma's house. I agree with your response.
DeleteQuestion 7:
ReplyDeleteHaving one standard for gender equality has the possibility be a very nice thing to have all across the world, but the reality of it happening just isn’t there and probably never will be there. To me gender equality is a strange concept because men and women are not made equal. They have advantages over each other. And then society has created numerous amounts of double standards that benefit one side or another that each side wouldn’t just give up or disregard. One of the most debated double standards I can think of is that women can hit a man without much consequence. However if a man even thinks about hitting a woman it’s straight to jail with him. This double standard exists for the protection of women. In most cases the male partner in a relationship is the one who is also bigger and stronger where as the female is smaller and weaker. This does not apply to everyone, but that is the reason society has created this double standard. Many people talk of gender equality but still believe in these double standards like myself. That is why I believe that one standard for gender equality might not be such a great thing after all but equality standards still need to be changed.
I agree that women are protected much more in cases having to do with violence and that isn't really all that fair. I also agree that we aren't equal in every way but overall I think it kind of cancels out making us pretty equal.
DeleteI totally agree that there are double standards in the world regarding gender. To me though, double standards here in the US are a minor offense to gender equality compared to blatant inequality seen in other countries. Especially in countries that have religious or traditional values that place women inferior to men such as Nigeria and many other African countries.
Delete@ Tim
DeleteI understand that the double standards are minor offenses compared to what's going on in other parts of the world. My point was that achieving totally gender equality is really not viable or practical thing to do.
The whipping man is relevant to Society today for so many reasons. Not only did this play capture the essence of war and how putrid it can be, but it also covered the lives of slaves; how they were treated, and what they were allowed and not allowed to do. Aside from those literal things, this play had a much deeper meaning than what the surface offered, and all these meanings can be applied to the past, present, and future. Understanding that we are all slaves to something in our life is a pronounced and very important concept to take away from this play. Whether it be something physical, spiritual or emotional. We all are slaves to something in which we put into power.
ReplyDeleteAnother important metaphor that was an underlying message that became apparent to me later on in the play appeared when John was getting whipped and then he managed to acquire the whip, turning around and beat the whipping man to death. Digging into this metaphor reference more is intriguing and quite literal, for not only is this relevant to the play but also life in general. One way to see this is by associating the whipping man as an awful man or a man of wrong. He who had aggressive and powerful actions; actions that he took for granted and drew out to lengths of extreme, which then came back around and killed him. Our own actions don’t just affect the people that they are directed towards; they also affect the people watching but most importantly yourself; whether meant to be positive or negative.
Understanding that these two major concepts will always impact us for the rest of our lives regardless of the time era, is something that should be recognized and valued in knowing.
1. How do the characters assert their individuality within a repressive society? Jaja and Kambili don't have a sense of individuality when they're around their papa because he runs a very close-knit household. He has a schedule for each person and they have to stick to that schedule. Kambili says that she doesn't know what she wants do when she's out of the house but her father will make the decision when the time comes. I think that Jaja and Kambili assert their individuality by doing little things that defy either the church or papa. Jaja was defying his papa at the beginning of the book by not attending communion. Kambili ate cereal 10 minutes before Mass and that defies the first commandment. Kambili doesn't really do anything to defy her father or the church and she just seeks her father's approval. Papa is very defiant because he writes articles for a newspaper called the Standard. He writes about the truth and what's actually going on in Nigeria.
ReplyDeleteI also agree that the two of them have problems expressing their individuality because of their father. Do you think that if they grew up in a less stressful, less strict house hold that they would be completely different people?
Delete2. Where do the characters find sources of inspiration in their lives? Kambili finds a source of inspiration while she is living with aunty Ifeoma. She admires how everyone can be so happy and laugh so much. She admires that Amaka and Ifeoma can speak so openly and freely. Jaja admires Obiora because he is more independent and Jaja longs for that feeling of independence. Jaja likes to help Ifeoma with her garden and he finds joy in it. He's not really able to do anything that he actually likes around papa because his papa has a schedule for him and he must follow his schedule.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you! Spending time with Aunty really influenced and changed Jaja and Kambili for the better. It gave them a break from their controlling papa and helped them discover their own voices.
DeleteI couldn't agree more! I feel as though she learns so much form Amaka and Ifeoma, and learns how to be herself around them. On top of this, I feel as though she has a little bit of inspiration from her mom- because her mother is a strong individual.
Delete7. Should there be one standard for gender equality throughout the world? Why or why not? Yes there should be one standard for gender equality throughout the world. There are many double standards that are just flat out not fair. Women are expected to shave their legs and armpits or else people will give them weird looks, but if a man doesn't shave no one even thinks twice about it. Another double standard is that women can hit a man without the man hitting her back. But if a man hits a woman then he'll be looked at as a monster. I think that perfect gender equality is not a realistic goal and we probably won't ever achieve perfect gender equality, but there's always room for improvement.
ReplyDeleteI think your answer to this is right on track. We can't achieve perfect equality because of the physical difference between men and women. We can and should, however, try for loose equality where people are judged based on their merit in society.
DeleteQuestion 1: The characters use items that are important to them, For the mother, it was her figurines, the boy, JaJa, he was more open and explicit, using his loss (or lesser believing) of faith
ReplyDeleteCan individuality truly be seen through what we own? How does it show?
DeleteQuestion 7: I believe that double standards are ridiculous, for people to be treated different based off of gender is an atrocity in nature and shouldn't be prevalent any longer. For example, a man hits a woman and he's a monster, but if a woman does it, men can't hit back. Or equal pay for equal work.
ReplyDeleteI respect and agree with your opinion. A woman should be able to receive the same pay as a man, if she works just as hard as him. Gender should not matter. A woman hitting a man is just as bad as a man hitting a woman. Abuse is abuse, and gender does not matter. Gender equality should be present in all societies.
DeleteI also believe that double standards are ridiculious- my favorite being that a man may have all the sex would like and be considered cool, while a girl who has a large quantity of sex is a slut. Do we see any double standards within this novel?
DeleteQuestion 6: Seeing the world through someones else's eyes, especially through someone less fortunate than you, it makes you actually leave your world, and step into the horrid world of reality, seeing what happens in these repressed countries, should make all of us feel lucky the way we live, more importantly grateful.
ReplyDeleteI couldn't agree more! As much as we complain about our lives, we often over look the basic human rights we have, that others lack.
DeleteI definitely agree that reading this book made me take a step back and look at all I had in appreciation. This book was incredibly powerful in this respects.
DeleteQuestion 1: Kambili has the hardest time expressing her individuality. She can't seem to find her voice because of the way her papa has always controlled and oppressed her. Jaja expresses his individuality by rebelling against his papa's ways. For example, he didn't go to communion, he also said he would drink at a heathen household. He doesn't have a hard time expressing himself in Aunty's household. Kambili and Momma have a much harder time because they are women and are oppressed more than the men.
ReplyDeleteQuestion 2: Papa's inspiration his his faith. His entire life is guided by Christianity. He would be completely lost without it; it controls him. Faith has become such a big part of his life that he won't even associate himself with his father. Kambili doesn't seem to have much inspiration at all until she connects with Father Amadi. She seems to find her voice and purpose other than fulfilling her papa's image of what she should be.
Question 6: This story reveals to me a world where people are so oppressed that they can't even use their own voice. It is very astonishing to see the struggles Kambili has with her own thoughts and things she wants to speak, but just can't. It is horrible to know that people can let themselves be so controlled and beat down by someone, but at the same time love, respect, and stick up for that person. This story helped me expand my knowledge of a society where religion controls a man, a man controls his family, and all men control women.
I agree with your 2nd question's answer. Religion is such a driving force on their father who already has so much power that his family is almost completely isolated from the real world. Its also ironic how controlling their father is, almost like he wants to be god.
DeleteFor question 6 I agree that it is terrible to see people so oppressed. Kambil struggled to express herself because she wanted so much for her father to approve of her. Because of this struggle she had trouble even deciding what she was thinking because she knew her father might not approve.
Delete1. Kambili doesn't try very hard to express her individuality in the first half of the book. The main reason for this is because of how oppressive her father is and the very high standards he holds for his family. One of the best examples of Kambili being oppressed by her father is when she only places second in her class her father is very disappointed in her because he believes God has set higher standards for her. Jaja on the other hand is more rebellious in expressing himself like when he refused to go to church which resulted in his father throwing a book at him and being very upset because he is an extremely religious man. Thankfully their aunt has more liberal views and allows for free speech/freedom of expression in her house.
ReplyDelete5. When we see veiling being in other countries we are usually disapproving of the tradition for a couple reasons. The first main reason we disapprove is because in our culture people are typically encouraged to dress how they want. Secondly in our culture we are a more materialistic society so we usually expect women to "show some skin" so to speak. This also changes our perception of women in other countries who wear veils because we see them as oppressed freedom-less people even though veiling is a religious dress, we simply don't always understand.
7. I think there should be a universal standard for gender equality for multiple reasons. Firstly men and women have the same potential to produce work so there is no reason why men should go out to work in the world while women tend to household chores like in most "traditional" cultures. Women are perfectly capable of working outside the house and may/probably even want to work but can't because it isn't "proper" or "traditional". Another example of why universal gender standards is a good idea is because if the world has less oppression there will be the possibility for many great minds to emerge and make a difference in the world once they have freedom.
I also think that some people will see women with headscarves and take that as to assume they're muslim, and then make cruel stereotypes about that. I think that it's unfortunate, but people tend to jump to conclusions about this.
DeleteTo address question 7: Do you think gender equality is realistic? I agree that it would be a great goal to strive for, however tradition, religion ect. will get in the way. I believe we should focus on gender equality in third world countries like Nigera before we complain about gender equality here in the U.S. Women here in the U.S. want gender equality, and I don't blame them. However, we should start by trying to fix gender equality in third world nations.
DeleteCam- do you think other countries would find it slightly hypocritical if we (the US) pilot gender equality in all nations when the reality is that women are still not equal to men, in many respects, in the US? Just a thought...
Delete6. Throughout the course of the novel, bits and pieces of the main character’s lives are revealed to the readers- whether it be through flashbacks, events, or interactions with others within the novel. At the beginning of the novel, Kambili’s family has the cookie-cutter perfect family feel, but slowly and surely, we learn of the cruelty of her father. It doesn’t take long to see the physical abuse that goes down within the family. The fact that we learn that it isn’t uncommon for fathers to abuse the household members, reveals quite a bit about their society. The fact that it is acceptable for the head male to abuse those within his household sickens me. Comparing their society to ours, it is obvious that their society lacks basic human rights that we often take for granted. This story opens those with basic human right’s eyes that there is more than equality out there- and it isn’t pretty
ReplyDeleteWe definitely do take for granted our basic human rights. Reading this book made me realize how awful some people have it made me very grateful of what I have.
DeleteI think that is the powerful thing about reading novels centered on other cultures. It's easy to compare and contrast, and often times we come away with a greater understanding of how fortunate we really are to be able to live in the US.
Delete4. More often than not, I feel as though our society puts a negative atmosphere around women and the practice of veiling in other countries, as well as our own country. Although a large quantity of the time, veiling is a requirement of the head male of the house, it can also be by choice. Religion also plays a large factor, as shown within the novel multiple times. Kambili’s father often praises her for wrapping her hair correctly for church services. Although our cultural background portrays mostly the suppression of women in third world countries, it is important to remember that many are not opposed to the practice of veiling, as it correlates with their person beliefs or likings.
ReplyDeleteOur society definitely as negative attitudes towards the practice of veiling. I believe that this is just a result of our society not being accustomed to the practice as women in our society are showing off more then ever.
DeleteFree Response: Eugene/Papa
ReplyDeleteEugene’s character has intrigued me since the beginning, and I’m unsure just how to feel about him. It is clear to me that he is not a good man, due to his constant abuse of those around him. However, he is not entirely evil in my mind. He is credited through out the novel for funding schooling for children in his village, as well as paying for his father’s funeral. Through out the novel, I have tried to justify his actions with something- but it always seems to come back to his religious views. I feel as though he was probably raised in a household (as well as society) that was perfectly fine with physical abuse in situations where sinning occurs. On top of him nearly beating his daughter to death, killing his own child in the womb, and burning his children’s feet, I would argue that he is also emotionally abusive due to the fact that his love always feels artificial. All he wants is for them to succeed. The idea of what I conceive as family is not what I’d consider a family. I feel as though Eugene tries his hardest to ‘play God’.
I agree with you that he has done some things in his life, but he was in the end an abusive man, and in my mind the good does not outweigh the bad. I also think that through it all, he genuinely believes that he is doing the right thing for his family for them to be saved by God. While this is clearly not what Christianity is about, I think that he is deluded, and not necessarily evil.
DeleteI'm glad you're intrigued by Eugene, Taylor. Adichie has created a complex character, one hard to categorize or judge. I like how Anita called him "deluded," for his commitment to virtue hardened somewhere along the way into fanaticism and abuse. Virtue turned vice. Where did he veer off from the family tree/tradition honored by Papa Nnukwa and Ifeoma?
Delete4.) I think that the restriction on woman's rights has a huge impact on their lives. And in the end, especially in this book, had an impact on other lives as well. Kambili's mother was someone who had been relatively passive in her oppression for years. Eugene had been controlling her and her children, and while Mama tried to protect Kambili and Jaja, for the most part she had no chance but to stand by and watch. Eventually though, she had enough and killed Eugene. I think that the extreme oppression is the reason behind her going through such extreme measures to protect herself and her family from an abusive figure. I think that she did so out of fear of retribution from Eugene that she didn't simply leave, and this idea that women were tied to men in addition to the other oppression can be dangerous when the women fight back.
ReplyDeleteFree Response: While I know that Mama had little choice or power to protect her children, I think that she could have done better in getting rid of Eugene. It was something that was long and planned out, and I think that she could have figured out something that wouldn't have resulted in an autopsy. While I can give Mama credit for eventually trying to assume the blame for Eugene's death, but while it was going down she should have immediately taken the blame instead of letting Jaja step forward. I wish that there had been some way that Jaja could have been proven innocent. I know that it's not realistic, but he's been through so much that I think that was one of the saddest parts in the book.
ReplyDeleteMama definitely should have tried harder to protect her children. I think it's kind of different when the abuse is happening to you. People are able to handle a lot both physically and mentally but when you see something bad happening to the people you love there is generally a change in how you act. Mama didn't seem to try to stop things until Papa almost killed Kambil. If she had taken a stand sooner I'm sure things would have been a little bit better.
DeleteI agree with what you say Anita, in that in order for Mama to act as a responsible parent, she should have stepped up for her family. Her fear of Papa oppressed her when he was alive, and after he died she still let Jaja take the blame. However, I was thinking that maybe the reason why she did this is because she felt that she owed it to Jaja in a way. Jaja's whole life he had been under detailed control by his father, and even at the end of the book he expresses his anguish at not being able to step up and take control of his family. Maybe this was his way of finally being able to do that; to protect his family like his cousin Obiora always strives to do. Perhaps Mama felt as though she didn't want to deny Jaja any more of his want to protect the family and to be a man. However, I'm sure she later realized that this was still a mistake, as Jaja, being a boy still, wasn't truly equipped to handle prison. I mean, is anyone ever?
Delete2.) The most obvious inspiration in a character's life was Eugene, who used God and Christianity to dictate his life. He credited everything he did to God, and the church, and I think that's how he was able to have a clear conscious with himself even after abusing his family for years. I think that he believed in what he did, and honestly though that he was doing what he was doing for God. I think that some evil people use religion as an excuse to do evil, and know that's what they're doing, but I got the sense that Eugene believed in his actions as a way to be close to God.
ReplyDeleteI agree that in his mind what he was doing was justified. He thought that since he was trying to help his children by punishing them and pushing them away from sin it was okay to abuse them.
Delete7) Though having a world wide equality for women would be great it is very unlikely that it will ever happen. Even in parts of the world where there is equality, some people discriminate. Since there are still countries in which women have little to no rights, overall equality throughout the world wont happen for a very long time if it ever does. Though there are inequalities between men and women, they kind of cancel out. Because of this we are more or less equal so it should be seen that way all around the world.
ReplyDeleteI strongly agree with you on this one. "Though there are inequalities between men and women, they kind of cancel out. Because of this we are more or less equal so it should be seen that way all around the world." This passage really makes since!
DeleteQuestion 2:
ReplyDeleteKambili and Jaja find inspiration in Aunty Ifeoma and her family. Their origin of inspiration comes when they visit Nsukka and Aunty Ifeoma’s family. Kambili admires their family and can’t believe one family can live with such happiness, love, and laughter. Aunty Ifeoma gives her children freedom, and Kambili notices this. Aunty Ifeoma is Kambili’s role model because she shows characteristics that Papa lacks, like freedom. Nsukka is a better environment for Kambili and Jaja to live in, they don’t have to live in worry like in Nukwa. “Because Nsukka could free something deep inside your belly that would rise up to your throat and come out as a freedom song. As laughter.” (697) This quote shows that Kambili feels at home in Nsukka and this is where she gets her inspiration from.
Papa finds inspiration in the Bible. He worships Christianity and that’s what he lives for. If God “tells” him to punish his family for committing sin then he will do exactly that. It seems like God comes before family in his eyes.
I agree completely with you that Jaja's and Kambili's inspiration springs from Aunty Ifeoma and her family. Most of the changes in their attitudes come from their stay with their extended family.
DeleteFree Response:
ReplyDelete“ ‘You should strive for perfection. You should not see sin and walk right into it.’ He lowered the kettle into the tub, tilted it toward my feet. He poured the hot water on my feet, slowly, as if he were conducting an experiment and wanted to see what would happen. He was crying now, tears streaming down his face. I saw the moist steam before I saw the water. I watched the water leave the kettle, flowing almost in slow motion in an arc to my feet. The pain of contact was so pure, so scalding, I felt nothing for a second. And then I screamed.’That is what you do to yourself when you walk into sin. You burn your feet’ he said.
To me, this is one of the most disturbing scenes in the book. Luckily, we live in a county where punishments aren’t handled this way. This is why people like me find Papa very evil for treating his daughter like this. Some people may say “He did this to follow his religion”. I get that, but there is a point where he has to take into consideration humanity. If one were to punish someone like that here in the United States, they would go to jail for abuse. I just do not see where Papa’s heart is. One minute he is proud of Jaja and Kambili for being first in their class, and then he is showing no remorse by pouring boiling water on their feet.
This quote was on page 463.
DeleteCam, I certainly agree with what you have said here!!! I was deeply disturbed by this scene myself! I don't know if it is matter of Papa specifically disregarding humanity. I think in a way he sees himself as trying to help humanity. I would most definitely describe him as a Catholic who is an extremist. This means he takes everything in the religion to the utter point, nothing can be wrong, nothing can be out of line. To answer your statement, "I just do not see where Papa's heart is." I think his heart is to actually, believe it or not, protect his children. Perhaps not protect them in the physical sense, but in the spiritual sense of keeping them out of the devil's hands. He feels remorse after because he wishes trying to keep them spiritually safe did not have to take such a harsh physical toll on them.
DeleteYour response is insightful, Kate. I have to agree that Papa's heart is to protect his children in the spiritual sense, since that is what is so important to Papa. And someone said it before, but Papa's childhood was not ideal. I guess this begs the question: nature vs. nurture?
DeleteQuestion 6:
ReplyDeleteBy reading Purple Hibiscus, the characters stories have expanded my knowledge of Nigerian society. I did not know much about Nigeria before I read the book. I predicted a stereotype type that there would be poor villages scattered all around. I was correct about this, for example there was a poor village near the Achike’s house that they went to Christmas for. I also never knew that parts of Nigeria were in a fuel crisis like Nsukka. This makes sense though because they are considered a third world nation and fuel priority for them would be a lot less than a country like the United States. I never expected that the military often had to go into some villages in order to prevent protests. I figured that most of the people would be so poor that they would focus on the basic things like food, water, shelter, not how their government is run. I also learned about how punishment was handled; at least in the Achike’s household. Like I said in my previous post, I don’t see how Papa could have the heart to punish Mama, Jaja, and Kambili like he did. Mama is Papa’s wife, and to beat her when she was pregnant was unethical. I took a lot away from this book, and now I am grateful for the society we live in, where the man of the household can’t beat his family like he owns them.
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ReplyDeleteI believe there should be one standard for gender equality in all countries. All people are equal, and they should be treated as such. In purple Hibiscus, we see the oppressive result of living in a patriarchal society. The ruling figure of the household or family unit holds all the power and in this case it is Papa. Papa is brutal in the way he treats his family and for a long time no one could challenge him. Mama and her kids couldn't just leave, they would be penniless and would have no where to go. This type of entrapment is particularly present in societies that value men over women. I believe gender equality should be present everywhere to avoid this type of oppression.
Do you think gender equality is realistic? I agree that it would be a great goal to strive for, however tradition, religion ect. will get in the way. I believe we should focus on gender equality in third world countries like Nigera before we complain about gender equality here in the U.S. Women here in the U.S. want gender equality, and I don't blame them. However, we should start by trying to fix gender equality in third world nations.
Delete5) Our current society is very into the idea of wearing what we want no matter how revealing. Because of this we are shocked when we see women in veils and non-revealing clothing. Even 50 years ago our culture was very comfortable wearing the clothes that they wanted. Having this very free and open background with our fashion we aren’t used to seeing women with restrictions on what they can wear and don’t understand their society as well.
ReplyDeleteI agree that because of how our society's sense of style developed, it gives us very little experience with people who cover up their heads. I think our society uses clothes to express ourselves, but in other countries clothing is used to conceal the body, and to isolate people.
DeleteI'm not sure that is always out of isolation that women in other countries must conceal themselves; religion and cultural differences are significant things to consider when thinking about reasons for concealment. On the other hand, sometimes I do feel that concealment is taken to extreme measures.
Delete5.
ReplyDeleteOur cultural background as Americans definitely influences how we perceive women and the practice of veiling itself. We (or most of us) see women as equal. Women have equal rights, and equal legal status. Because of this background it's almost hard to image a society where women are for all intents and purposes women are worth less than men. As far as veiling goes, I think we are simply unfamiliar with it. Not necessarily even as americans but as people who live in a predominantly white small town in Maine. I think this unfamiliarity with the practice leads to skepticism and even judgement of women who wear head coverings. I think we are subconsciously wary of this different culture simply because it is strange to us.
I think that since we aren't used to seeing the veiling of women as much it does seem rather strange to us. If it was something we saw more there would probably be a greater understanding of their society and we wouldn't care as much about how they were dressing.
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ReplyDelete3) Throughout the whole book things are very uneasy in their society. Because of the unstable society around kambil’s family it becomes very easy for her family to fall apart. They have no stability in their lives now that the government has been overthrown and their dad is becoming more and more abusive. This lack of structure and stability makes them question how things should be going and puts the idea of rebellion in their heads.
I agree, I think the government mirrors the Kambili to an extant. I also think it is even used as a kind of foreshadowing by showing how fragile things really are in their society.
Delete*Free Response*
ReplyDeleteI think Kambili's oppressive father gives her a very skewed idea of what love is. She is taught from a early age that her father's love is the only thing that matters because if she fails to live up to his impossible standards she will be punished. Also, a more subtle example of her confusion between pain in love are the "love sips" that Papa gives her. Whenever Papa has tea he gives Kambili a love sip, because when you love someone, you share the things you enjoy with them. However, the tea is always piping hot and burns Kambili's mouth. Also, when Kambili returns home from Aunt Ifeoma's house, Papa says she cannot walk through sin and proceeds to scald her bare feet with boiling water. All for Kambili's benefit, of course. This relationship between pain and love gives Kambili a very poor example early on on what love actually is.
I like the way you think, Tim Cox. The love sips "burn Papas love into Kambili". Kambili doesn't know that love should not evoke such pain. I agree that it's because of Papa that her ideas on love are so skewed.
DeleteQuestion 2:
ReplyDeleteEach character in the novel has a major source of inspiration in their life. The main sources of inspiration in Kambili and Jaja’s lives were really sprung from their visit to Aunty Ifeoma home in Nsukka. When Kambili and Jaja went to their aunt’s home in Nsukka they both began to pick up signs of how their life was so very different from that of their cousins. Kambili finds the most inspiration in her cousin Amaka. Amaka may have been kind of mean to Kambili but Kambili envied her cousins freedom over what she had. Amaka was allowed to wear red lipstick and she wore pants and shorts. Kambili wanted to have more of that freedom her cousin had and that’s where I believe her inspiration stemmed. I believe that Jaja gained a large amount of inspiration from his cousin Obiora. Obiora was raised by Aunty Ifeoma to challenge and question things and people around him. For example Obiora challenges a statement his sister makes about what she would do if she were vice-chancellor of the university.
I agree, it seems like Kambili turned a new leaf when in Nsukka. She gained strength, individuality, hope and a true role model.
DeleteFree response:
ReplyDeleteOut of all the characters I believe that Jaja is the most intriguing. The novel starts out with him refusing to go to communion, the beginning of his rebellion. From that point until Jaja and Kambili go to Aunty Ifeoma’s, Jaja slowly starts to defy his father but doesn't do anything too rash. Once they go to Aunty Ifeoma’s though, his rebellion is in full force. He responds to the change in the lifestyle at her house with almost an awe of wonder. Seeing his cousins challenge what other people were saying around him got him to do the same. For example, when Obiora makes a comment about the British winning the war, Jaja responds to him saying that they may have won the war, but they still lost many battles. After leaving his aunt’s flat, Jaja continues to express his new found courage at home. He asks his father for the key to his room so that he may have alone time even though he knows what his father will say. Then later on once his father dies, Jaja shows what I think of as maturity when he steps in for his mother to take the blame. I found that moment really moving because Jaja had lived his whole life under his fathers oppression but never did anything about it. Now this father has die he steps up and protects his mother like he feels he should have long ago. I really enjoyed being able to see Jaja grow up so fast in such a short amount of time.
I feel like everyone is rebellious in a certain way. The author really seemed to nail rebellion at the source teenage years, at least in Jaja's case.
DeleteQuestion 3:
ReplyDeleteI think that Kambili really is affected by her grandfathers sickness and his eventual death. Through her grandfather Kambili realizes what her father was wrong about. She learns that even though she is Catholic and he is a heathen, some of their rituals are very similar. She comes to this conclusion when Aunty Ifeoma has her watch his morning ritual and she notices the parallels between his ritual and her rosary. Aunty Ifeoma also expresses to Kambili that their God is watching over him while he is sick even though he is a heathen.
I agree that Kambili is very effected by her grandfather, as well as his as death. He definitely showed her the similarities between the religions they practice, but with one important difference. When Kambili observes her grandfather performing the Igbo version of the Rosary, she takes note that he is smiling, and happy. This is something Kambili doesn't feel when performing her Rosaries and I think this led her to believe that the religion you practice doesn't matter so much as why you practice it. For Kambili she has always practiced because she was forced to.
Delete5) Out cultural background shape how we feel women should dress, as well as how men should dress for that matter. In the United States, as children, we are grown up with the ideas embedded in our society that everyone should be treated equal. Use the Golden Rule: “Treat others how you wish to be treated.” We are bred to believe that everyone has freedom, and should be able to do what they please, as long as their actions do not infringe the rights of others. We are generally brought up in the U.S. to shine proudly and use our self expression as a way to feel comfortable in our own skin. We are taught to respect what others choose to wear, as that is what makes them feel good about themselves. So many times, when we hear of women that practice veiling or wearing head coverings, we assume that their rights have been taken. We automatically are led to assume that something is wrong that makes them dress this way. For many of us, it cannot be understood why someone would wish to cover their face, cover their hair, cover their entire head even! This is because we see trying to hide ourselves as taking away our rights to express ourselves. However, in many places religion causes women to WANT to wear these coverings, such as the Catholic church that Kambili and her family attend. There are also other religions that practice some type of veiling. Although there are some militant organizations that force women to hide themselves, there are also many cultures in which women feel more comfortable in covering themselves. Just because in our culture we do not practice this, doesn’t mean that other women wouldn’t CHOOSE to practice this in their own culture!
ReplyDelete6) All of the characters’ own personal stories have shown me multiple glimpses into what life in Nigeria is like. When reading this book, it’s like we have stepped out of the fog of our own nation and into an upside down world of another. I know that Africa was a large subject of colonialism, as I have just recently been informed of in AP euro class. This is the reason that we see different forms of life drawn by so sharply a line in the Nigerian society. Papa and his family have been affected by colonialism. Papa was taught to be Catholic, and given an education provided him to by missionaries. This is why he speaks so highly of the newer more modernized ways, and strays from tradition in both religion and other ways. Their money allows them a driver, a steward, and large meals. (They also have luxuries like a television and radio, although Papa’s strictness does not allow his family to use them.) Then there is the side of Nigeria where Aunty Ifeoma and her family live. Their story is one of a full family effort just to keep everything running smoothly. They eat small meals that they can manage and scrounge for fuel everyday. There are times when there is no power, so there is no light or heat. The government in Nigeria is awful and corrupted. This book has really given me an insight into what a 3rd world country is like, and it makes me grateful for the society in which I live in the U.S.
ReplyDeleteYou make some very good points in this response. The stories natives tell about their homeland are some of the purist glimpses we can get of a people's culture without living in the culture ourselves, I especially like how you mentioned contrast between the history of a person who was introduced to modern ways by religion and a person who was introduced to modern ways through nonreligious ways and how they must get along even though their subcultures are so different.
DeleteFree Response Questions: Purple Hibiscus Symbol
ReplyDeleteThe purple hibiscus flower is a symbol in the book, not simply just the title. I believe that the flower is supposed to represent hope, freedom, and change in the eyes of Jaja and Kambili. Aunty Ifeoma has created a beautiful balance of old a new with the purple hibiscus; a balance of the traditional hibiscus flower, and a new color using innovative scientific technology with the help of her botanist friend. Jaja sees the flower with hope that a new life can be created for himself and his family. By taking the flower home with him to plant in their home, his rebellion against the strict religion and lifestyle of his father begins to root itself in his heart, just as the flower begins to root itself in the soil of their garden.
Beautifully put Kate Guerin. I agree with this statement, the purple hibiscus symbolizes the entire story. As you said, it represents hope, freedom, and change.
DeleteQuestion 7: There should be one standard for gender equality throughout the world. It would benefit women and men everywhere. Women are constantly oppressed by themselves, as well as men, just because they are women. They are constantly blaming their oppression on men, but it’s also their actions as well. They don’t like to be expected to do certain things because they are women. They believe that certain jobs, for example, are specifically for men. I think it is possible that in the future we can overcome these gender stereotypes and have gender equality everywhere.
ReplyDeleteQuestion 3: Kambili is greatly influenced by the death of her grandfather. Her father had hated on him Kambili and Jaja’s entire lives. He made them think it was a sin to eat food and drink offered by him, as well as be in his company for more than 15 minutes. Kambili was massively stressed out by the fact that she was sharing a room with this Heathen man. Her Papa’s abuse had caused her to place religion over family. She was more worried with what her father would do if he knew she was sharing a room with a Heathen, than the fact that her own grandfather was very ill and possibly dying. When he actually died, Kambili was upset, but didn’t want to show it. She was very affected when she saw Amaka grieving. He was both of their grandfather, she should be reacting the same way.
ReplyDeleteI agree with how they mistreated their Grandfather and there seems to be so much irony in the fact they hated him when he was alive but as soon as he died Kambili realized what she had missed, it's tragic. You also mention how their father manipulated his kids with religion to ruin their family relationship with their Grandfather.
DeleteQuestion 4: Kambili didn’t own a single pair of shorts, nor had she ever worn one. During Christmas, when Aunty took Jaja, Kambili, and the cousins to the parade, Aunty suggested that Kambili might be more comfortable in shorts or pants. Kambili was unsure what to do, because it wouldn’t be “lady-like for her to not wear a skirt or dress.” Later on in the story when Father Amadi told Kambili she would be going with him to play soccer, she didn’t want to. Amaka gave her a pair of shorts, the first pair she had ever worn. Kambili was worried about what her father would do if he knew about this. She then put on some lipstick, and proceeded to wipe it from her face when the image of her Papa not being satisfied came to mind. Papa’s abuse and veiling her oppresses her greatly, and makes her constantly on edge and unsure of herself.
ReplyDelete3. I think that all the characters are affected by the change in society. The grandfather probably took the greatest hit in this societal shift because he continued to function as a Non-Christian due to the fact that his son became such a hardcore Christian that he almost completely disowned his own father. The result of this was that their Grandfather has to live out the rest of his days as a mistreated man who is at war with his own family until he dies. Kambili on the other hand is helped when she meets Father Amadi who is less Orthodox or at least more relaxed than her father and encourages her to flourish flourish emotionally and intellectually to learn to help herself and still maintain her religion.
ReplyDeleteFree Response:
ReplyDeleteI feel that their father's use of religion to control his family is extremely ironic because was treating his family extremely bad but either didn't realize it or used religion to justify his actions. What strikes me about this is that this is such common thing to happen with people all over the world in many religions, for example the crusades killed tons of muslims but were not questioned by many because the church said the muslims were heathens and if people supported them then they would not make it into heaven. Plus many cult leaders found ways to manipulate people into doing their bidding by using religious bribes like promise of heaven and safety from hell if they helped their cause or followed their ideas. This all seemed kind of hypocritical because religion is suppose to give people morals to follow to make them better people (and many people are better people because of religion) but religion also has the opposite affect on people sometimes and Papa's treatment of his family is a prime example of this.
3. Another example I was able to think of was when on page 289 Jaja begins to question his own religion and the bible which is a particularly pivotal point in his rebellion because he was openly showing his steady decline in faith to the point where he began question the everything he had been taught to believe as well as what his father based his life off of so he was almost truly independent mentally at this point because he was showing us how religion did not control his thought process anymore. We can also see this as a sign of progression for Jaja because humans have evolved and progressed as a species by asking questions and that is exactly what he is doing: trying to find answers to his problems and thinking freely. I think this was a very defining moment for Jaja in this book because it is when he became and individual at an emotional/psychological level.
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