Supervised Writing Essay Example

of the book that before the rebellion within the family, "Jaja and I communicated more through our spirits than with our words." (16). The ironic thing is that Papa promotes the same kind of censorship that he detests in his own newspaper. Ade Coker even wonders what would happen to the Standard if everyone were as silent as Papa. (57). However, as the novel progresses, readers witness how Kambili becomes more and more outspoken, using this small aspect of her personality to challenge her father's oppressive ways. In the end, Mama's resistance against Papa's oppressive behavior becomes evident with his murder.

The deed was not simply a killing; it was done using poison. This parallels the death of the despotic military dictator who ruled for most of the book. Known as Big Oga, General Obacha died suddenly and under suspicious circumstances in 1998. The announcement of Papa's death, that he was poisoned, was given in a short paragraph, devoid of emotion. It provided the facts but did not reveal Mama or Kambili's feelings towards the revelation of the murder. General Obacha's death was not widely reported and its true details remain a mystery even after almost 15 years. However, his death marked the beginning of Nigeria's gradual reformation and political progress, just as Papa's death allowed the fractured psyches of the remaining Achike family members to heal.

The Achike family members symbolize the different groups in Nigeria. Their family dynamics and the challenges they face reflect the political environment of Nigeria in the 1990s. Therefore, Adichie's depiction of the characters serves as her critique on the political ideologies present in Nigeria during that period.