Eugene (Papa) Achike

Question 1

“Papa liked order” - Kambili

Papa has created meticulous schedules for his children

Answer 1

this shows his immense dictation. even in simple things like spending time with family, it is all structured meticulously.

shows the inexorable control he has over them.

Question 2

“papa changed his accent when he spoke, sounding british… he was gracious in the eager-to-please way he always assumed with the religious, especially the white religious.” Pg. 46

Answer 2

• presents papa as a “colonial product”
• he favours western culture over his own due to an indoctrinated sense of eurocentrism
• eager-to-please : contrasts with his tyrannical rule at home.

Question 3

papa has a gold framed photo of grandfather (beatrice’s mother)

Answer 3

• gold frame -> metaphor for papa’s respect for him
• contrasts to his “godless” view of his own father
• papa respects grandfather as he is christian and almost light-skinned, more western mindset

Question 4

“why do you walk into sin?”

“why do you like sin?”

Answer 4

• rhetorical questions show papa’s commitment to religion
• he feels obliged to harm his children after they sin

Question 5

“he had seemed immortal” - kambili

Answer 5

• her disbelief at papa’s death is because she saw him as a higher, superior being
• his presence and intense control lingers, even now that he is gone