Purple Hibiscus: Characterization

Throughout the book the father, Eugene would make mountains out of moles hills. The situations did not matter, what mattered was if it was against him and/or his religion. His family suffered greatly from him, because there was no pleasing him. The only times he didn't chastise his family was when there were guests in their home, or when they would go out in public. Eugene was a very religious man and kept anyone that seemed like they were a "heathen and anything that seemed like a "pagan" god or object, it was not under any circumstances permitted on his property. When someone or something that was against his religion, he would go insane.

For example, Jaja did not take communion, because the wafer would give him bad breath and whenever the priest would touch his mouth it would nauseate him. Eugene did not find that as a good excuse. Eugene threw the heavy missal at Jaja. Fortunate for Jaja it missed him, but instead the book hit the mother's etagere and broke the figurines sitting on it (6-7).

Another example, Kambili and Jaja, was looking at a half painted picture of their grandfather given and painted by their cousin. When their father came in to the room, he saw them looking at their picture, took it from them, and ripped it up. Kambili was horrified at her father's actions, she jumped up to go save the fallen pieces, as she did this her father started to beat her severely (209-210).