'PURPLE HIBISCUS' BY CHIMAMANDA NGOZI ADICHIE
This is a lovely book , I must
say that I really enjoyed reading every piece of this book. The writer was able
to show us through the character of Mr. Eugene that indeed no man is perfect,
we all have our weaknesses. But when we say that we have no weakness then we
lie to ourselves and are blinded to the havoc that weakness wrath on our loved
ones.
The commandments of God can be
summarized in one ‘love your neighbor as yourself’, love therefore, is the
principal thing, which was absent in the life of Mr. Eugene. He did not
understand the true meaning of God’s love so he erred. He loved the religion,
but did not know how to show love through the religion. A religion devoid of
love is dead. He could not be merciful, loving, kind and compassionate to his
father, he could not share with his father the riches God had blessed him with.
His bitterness against his father for being a pagan did spill over without him
knowing in the way he managed his home with a loving iron fist devoid of
feelings .from all indications Mr. Eugene is a choleric by temperament. He hated the
dictators ruling the country but failed to see that he was no different from
them. He has anger issues, as he wanted
to throw an object at his son but it got the figurines on the etagere, he was
also responsible for the mysterious miscarriages of his phlegmatic wife as he
used a table made of sturdy wood and broke it on her stomach.
Mr. Eugene was able to bring up
children who were able to think but could not express themselves and socialize
with their peers. His sister, Aunt Ifeoma, on the other hand despite being a
catholic, took care of their pagan father and brought up her children in love,
so that they could express themselves fearlessly.
His pursuit for perfection in the
life of his love ones in all area of life blinded him from seeing his brutality to his family. His seemingly
timid wife had to take the bold step one day through the assistance of Sisi who
introduced her to a witch doctor, who gave her a poison. Jaja however stood up
for his mother took her place and went to prison while Kimbali comforts her
Mum.
In their desperation in securing
the freedom of Jaja they got involved in some dirty dealings that their
righteous father would never have approved of but they only came to the
realization that indeed there is non perfect, no not one. We have just this
life to live , to forgive, to love and be compassionate.
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