Eugene Achike- a Man Who Did Horrible Things Essay

Papas role in the community is vital in its functioning he the prime contributor to its people by donating property to the church and church related organisations. He uses his newspaper, The Standard as a form of rebellion against the corrupt military government which proves that he is trying to rectify the country. His relationship with Ade Coker and the effect that his death had on him proves that he has compassion and is soft-hearted ,but chooses to mask it- not wanting to show any sort weakness. He helps the Coker family follow back on their feet after Ades death, helping the baby regain her voice thus proves that he has good qualities.At home he is depicted as a tyrannical leader and is constantly enforcing his position in the family by means of instilling fear and in turn he receives blind obedience, discipline and most importantly the perfect family. His methods of enforcing his position ranges from extreme physical abuse which is vividly portrayed when he beat Mama to the forefront of her having a miscarriage and when he beat Kambili and Jaja for walking into sin in Nsukka ,to emotional abuse when he intimidated Kambili in front of her peers for choosing to come insurgent in class.Actions such as these or ensuring that his children follow a strict schedule designed by him could easily change the readers cognition of Papa into a negative one, but it is is justification and his his role in the community that sways the readers perception of him. His justification for his actions is portrayed through his rabid belief. He feels that it is his moral obligation to punish those that have sinned which in turn redeems them their place in heaven.This is continually represented by his emotional state whilst concentrated a family member, crying while pouring water over Kambilis feet, his swollen eyes after finding out about the miscarriage and the repentance that he felt after Mama left for Nsukka. It would be a fairly accurate deduction that Papa does mons trous things, but he as well does good throughout the novel which proves that he is not a monster nor is he a saint.