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Eugene is a complex character with good and bad qualities.

Good qualities: Giving- Gives a great deal of his money to charities and people in need.

True to his beliefs- Never once questions his faith.

Hard-working- Is a successful businessman with many factories.

Bad qualities: Violent- Beats his wife and children for any slight differing opinion.

Not family-oriented- Terrifies his children into abiding by his rules, causes his wife to have two miscarriages that we know of, cuts off ties with his father due to differing religious beliefs.

Controlling- Has his children living by strict schedules that he made for them, doesn't allow them to have any hobbies or fun, relaxing time for themselves.

Whilst Eugene has many good and bad qualities, the bad clearly outweigh the good, especially in the eyes of his wife and son, which leads to his early death.

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Jaja shares numerous traits with his father and one of the ones that stands out the most is their selfless nature. However, they express their selflessness in quite different ways. While Papa gives to charities and the community, he tends to neglect his family. Jaja, on the other hand, will do anything to protect his family; including taking the blame for Papa's death.

Both are also extremely loyal people. Jaja, again, is very loyal to his family. Papa, however, is extremely religious and therefore loyal to God only.

Jaja and Papa may share many traits, but they express them in very different ways.

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After Papa breaks a table over Mama's stomach, resulting in a second miscarriage, Mama begins poisoning Papa. He was found lying on his desk in the offices of 'The Standard.' Jaja and Mama show no signs of grief, they are relieved he is gone.

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Eugene- Extremely Religious

Makes charitable donations.

Doesn't allow Igbo praise songs when the family prays.

Abuses Jaja and Kambili when they don't do well by his standards, e.g breaking Jaja's fingers because he got two questions wrong on a religion exam.

It seems as though he was brainwashed by the missionaries to think that what he was doing was right because it was done to him.

Father Amadi- He positively influences the community of Nsukka, Amaka and the children adore him and he plays football with the local children.

Isn't as extreme in his religious ways as Papa.

Breaks out in Igbo song during prayers.

He combines the traditional Pagan religion with his own.

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Ade Coker's Death Tipped Papa over the Edge

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Ade Coker's Death Tipped Papa over the Edge

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After Ade was blown up, Papa was inconsolable.

He spent many days crumpled on the sofa. He seemed small for the first time.

We see Papa blaming himself for Ade's death. He's taking responsibility for the tragedy.

Weeks later Papa was still grieving. He had hollows under his eyes and acted lifeless.

We see him deteriorating - "Papa no longer went to the other factories as often as he used to. Some days, Father Benedict came before Jaja and I left for school, and was still in Papa's study when we came home."

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He makes Kambili stand in the bath

He interrogates her, asking questions about her grandfather and her time in Nsukka.

He tells her she walked into sin and begins to cry. Papa then pours boiling water on her feet.

"The pain of contact was so pure, so scalding, I felt nothing for a second. And then I screamed

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He interrogates people

He is pressuring

He is over-emotional

Sin-obsessed

He still sees money as a problem solver

Fearless - the Standard Newspaper, despite being in danger.

"They all told Papa to be careful. Stop going to work in your official car. Don't go to public places. Remember the bomb blast at the airport when the civil rights lawyer was travelling."

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Papa controlled every aspect of the households life, including;

-When they ate

-When they prayed

-If/When they visited relatives

-Answering the phone first

-Always having the final say

-Mama, who should have an equal right to parent their children, is also controlled by him

-Kambili and Jaja's education

-Giving his children detailed schedules for every hour of every day which they were terrified not to follow

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Papa clearly has his own psychological problems, but rather than dealing with these problems in a safe way, he takes his frustration out on his wife and children.

He abuses them mentally as well as physically, to the point where the first thing Jaja says when he finds out Mama is pregnant is, "We will take care of the baby; we will protect him."

Kambili is in constant fear that Papa will know when she has sinned, which causes her to avoid opening up to anyone.

He lets his abuse stew in both Jaja's and Kambili's minds. They are "silent-criers"; left vulnerable, dependent, anxious, socially awkward and unable to live like normal children.

Papa also takes his disappointment/frustration out on them physically. He beats them with a stick from a young age, whips them with his belt, smashes their bones and burns their skin. Papa had no boundaries and wouldn't stop until he thought they had repent from sin.

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Winner of the Amnesty World Human Rights Award

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Winner of the Amnesty World Human Rights Award

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"His editor Ade Coker, had insisted on it, saying Papa deserved it, saying Papa was too modest."

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Making the biggest donations to Peter's pence and St. Vincent de Paul.

Paying for the cartons of communion wine.

Paying for the new ovens at the convent.

Paying for the new wing to St.Agnes Hospital.

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We notice throughout the novel that Papa has many issues he doesn't deal with mentally. While attempting to convert other's faith, we see his own flaws and problems.

He forces his children to abide by a schedule, meaning that they cannot make a single independent decision.

He has cut off ties with his father due to differing religious beliefs.

He is very emotionally unstable. He abuses Kambili and then proceeds to break down into tears as if he had had no choice in the matter.

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"Papa deserved praise for not choosing to have more sons with another woman, of course, for not choosing to take a second wife. But then, Papa was different." - Kambili

"When policemen or soldiers stopped Papa, he spent so long showing them all his car papers, letting them search his car, anything but bribe them to let him pass."

"We cannot be part of what we fight, he often told us." Kambili

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Devout Catholic- Papa thinks prayer can solve any problem and bring grace.

Intimidating, Strict & Stern

Father and Husband, but not very family oriented

Violent & Intolerant- He throws a bible at his son simply because he didn't go up for communion at mass, shattering all of Mama's dearly-loved figurines. We also discover that he abuses his wife on a regular basis and she allows it to happen out of fear.

He takes his faith very seriously - "he pressed hard on each forehead to make a perfect cross with his ash-covered thumb and slowly, meaningfully enunciated every word..."

He is a perfectionist when it comes to his family life, religion, work and friends.

People see him as a "God-like" figure and see him as an admirable man of faith, but behind closed doors we see his dedication to God get the better of him when he goes overboard and abuses his wife and children when they don't follow his commands.