In Purple Hibiscus by Chimamanda Ngozi Aidchie One of the main things I find problematic about Kambili is that she constantly looks for approval from her father. She seems to back track in her thoughts alot as well and on several occasions she can be seen saying "I wish I had thought to say that before" When she comes second she has a bit of a physical breakdown, this to me demonstrates the amounts of pressure she experiences in her home. It is interesting that her grandfather is "godless" but was still able to find a way to somehow educate her father. The imagery of her fathers room is also interesting because while there is so much white in his room, it seems safe but also smothering and overwhelming.
I feel that her looking for approval from her father is more about trying to get back to her place of safety and regain the same relationship she once had with her father. I also feel like the way that his room is fashioned can be compared to his extremest views about religion. Everything is white and according to Kambili "all that cream blended and made the room seem wider, as if it never ended, as if you could not run if you wanted to because there was nowhere to run to."(pg 41) In contrast to her wanting to please her father there is also the element of extreme acts of violence, I feel as though these represent the idea of extreme punishments in contrast with religious views. Eugene wants his children to do well and to be perfect, however because they are just human beings. Human beings are subject to failure as they are subject to sin. When momma says "Thank God Ade is safe" and Papa says that he had cigarettes put out on his back, I feel this also returns us to the idea of physical punishment in order to elavate the soul. This was an extrimest view christians heild during the crusades.
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I think Eugene's strict approach to religion has a lot to do with his own fears and insecurities. He believes that in following the rules of the church in such an orthodox way he's somehow purging his flaws and sins. He is constantly seeking approval from Father Benedict by giving and being involved in the community. He makes sure that everyone else follows the same rules and becomes particularly concerned when someone deviates from the right path. He truly believes that this is the only way to be in God's good grace, and he specially wants his loved ones to secure God's blessings. This firm belief of his, along with his own strict upbringing, results in the violent and systematic way in which he rules his family.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Julia when she says that this an extremist view, however, I don't think this is a practice exclusive to christians or any other denomination for that matter.
The same type of phenomena can be found in different societies and time periods regardless of religious affiliation.
My grandfather was also an oppresive, authoritative man, who resorted to violence and fear in order to educate his children and control his spouse. He too had a strict system in place. He too gave much back to the community in terms of money and other materialistic ways. He too was loved and praised by the townfolk and respected by his peers. He too beat his wife and children, and he too thought that he knew what was best for his loved ones. However, he didn't use religion as a conduit to justify his actions. To him, respect, hard work, honor, and education represented higher values, and those were the values that he wished to instill in his children.
Therefore, I think that oppression is not an "attribute" that should be associated only with religion. Oppression is just a means for those who hold some degree of influence and leverage to instill their own beliefs and ideologies (good or bad) in others.