IndexIntroductionPurple Hibiscus: Analysis of Dad's CharacterConclusionReferencesIntroduction"Uncle Eugene is not a bad man, really... People have problems, people make mistakes." These words are spoken by Kambili, who tries to explain that the violent father is not a "bad man", but rather a person who has good qualities but also many defects. Dad's troubled past plays a role in why he acts the way he does, but it doesn't excuse his actions. In the novel Purple Hibiscus by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Papa (Eugene) is perceived as a saint in the community, but in reality, to his family, he is violent and cruel. This irony, as well as Dad's abuse, characterizes him as the novel's antagonist. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay Purple Hibiscus: Dad's Character Analysis In public, Eugene is perceived as a man of great faith and generosity. He is kind to the community and very generous. As a wealthy businessman, Dad is able to donate a lot of money and resources, such as food and guidance, to the community. With all the money Dad donated, he never bragged about his contributions because he believes it would be wrong in the eyes of the Lord if he did. On page 90, Eugene donates enough money to the church to renovate the entire building. After making the donation he left very humbly: “'Let's go,' said Dad, when the MC finally came by to announce a new donation. She led the way out of the room, smiling and waving at the many hands that reached out to grasp her white tunic as if touching it could cure her of an illness.” Dad donates all this money and wants little to no recognition for the contribution; this excerpt shows through the use of metaphor that dad has some good qualities, such as his generosity and humility as a Catholic. This example also illustrates how he cares for the community to the point that they worship him and how he does not abuse this power. Indeed, people admire Eugene; they consider him their savior during the hard times facing Nigeria, and he does not disappoint them. This quote shows Eugene's good qualities as a public figure and man of God, but even though he shows the traits of a good Catholic, Eugene is not a saint. Although Eugene appears to be a great man in public, in his private life he constantly destroys his family. Dad's private life with his family presents a stark contrast to how he acts in his community. In fact, his kindness and generosity do not extend to his loved ones, and he is instead violent and abusive. In Kambili's flashback, she describes a time when Dad hit her for being a few minutes late after school: "Dad slapped my left and right cheeks at the same time, so his huge palms left parallel marks on my face and ringing in my ears." ears for days'. This behavior is ironic compared to the activity of the generous man who presents himself in public. The father that the community knows would never harm his children. Outside of his private life, he is called the Omelora or He who does for the Community for his kindness towards all the inhabitants of the town and his willingness to help families in times of difficulty. However, for his own family he is the cause of all the pain and suffering. Twice in the book, on pages 33 and 248, Dad beats his wife so badly that she aborts the baby. These examples of his abuse demonstrate that Dad has a considerable number of flaws. His acts of generosity do not negate his appalling behavior towards his family, nor should they. His behavior is unacceptable./63829)