Individuality is something that has defined humans throughout history. We all grow up with the notion that we are unique, one of a kind. There’s simply no one else in the world quite like us. However, what is it that makes us unique? What is it that gives us our characteristics and determines how we act in the world around us? Through the characterization of Kambili and Amaka from Purple Hibiscus, as well as that of Batman and Oedipus Rex, it can be seen that while all action is the resultant of one's free will, there are many external factors that determine the actions one will take. Specifically, a character’s upbringing is the main determinant to help them see the world the way they do and act accordingly.
The importance of upbringing can be seen in Kambili’s interactions with those at her school and at home. Kambili initially explains that her antisocial behavior was something she cultivated in response to Papa’s abuse. Papa has beaten her to be quiet and only speak when spoken to, as he boasts to Ade Coker that “[t]hey are not like those loud children people are raising these days, with no home training and no fear of god.” While Eugene believes this positively depicts his militant parenting style, the audience can see how the cycle of abuse has inflicted Kambili.
It can also be seen that Kambili’s initial motivations for all her actions revolve around making her dad proud… so she could avoid his beatings. She takes pride in being a “backyard snob,” as she notes that she “carried a bigger load - the worry of making sure [she] came first.” The psychological pressure of coming first in her class was too high for Kambili to manage without repercussions, leading her to isolate herself from the other schoolgirls. The other girls think of her as pretentious because she never pauses to talk to them after school, even though she quite literally has no choice but to leave school as early as she can. After all, the time she “took a few minutes longer, Papa slapped [her] left and right cheeks at the same time,” showing how domestic violence has diminished Kambili’s social skills.
The impact that upbringing has on one’s actions and characteristics can specifically be seen in the juxtaposition of Kambili and Amaka. Although related by blood, the two couldn’t be any more different: one is quiet, shy, and raised by a god-loving tyrant, while the other is loud, vivacious, and raised by a loving family. While Kambili oftentimes keeps her thoughts and her innermost emotions to herself, Amaka makes sure everyone knows what’s on her mind. One of Aunty Ifeoma’s favorite pastimes is to simply watch Amaka and Obiora go back and forth in argument, as she can’t help but to feel proud of her childrens’ intelligence in the world around them. Debate like that would never happen at Kambili’s house. In fact, while Kambili remains completely devoid of any future plans, as “when the time came, Papa would decide,” Amaka wants to stand up against the oppressive government and “launch her activist movements” at the university. Because of the supportive family around her, Amaka is unafraid and bold in whatever she decides to do.
When analyzing this book through a structuralist lens, the common motif of the purple hibiscus can be identified. The purple hibiscus represents a transformation in Kambili and Jaja’s life: one of outward rebellion against their father. While at Aunty Ifeoma’s, the two of them experience true freedom for the first time. They were finally allowed to live their life without cowering from their father. As they learned that disagreement and rebellion were natural when faced with injustice, they both began to model the purple hibiscus: “rare, fragrant with undertones of freedom, a different kind of freedom.”
https://www.verywellmind.com/operant-conditioning-a2-2794863
In AP Psych, we learned about operant conditioning, which is “a method of learning that employs rewards and punishments for behavior.” If you wanted to reduce someone’s behavior of doing something, you would punish them whenever they did that behavior until they finally stopped. Similarly, we can see how Kambili and Jaja have been conditioned by Papa. He has come up with every form of abuse possible, from mutilating his children’s feet by pouring boiling water on it to beating up his family, in order to get them to be like the ideal vision he has for them: quiet, god-fearing, and will do exactly as he says. This gives us insight as to why Kambili acts the way she does after years of living with her father.
Bruce Wayne from Batman Begins is another example of how one’s upbringing and early childhood memories can influence their actions even as they grow up. From a young age, Bruce is terrified of bats after he falls into an old well. After his parents are shot and killed by a criminal, Bruce is abandoned to be an orphan. To get vengeance in the name of his parents, he turns to a life of fighting crime to clean up the streets of Gotham and make sure what happened to him doesn’t happen to anyone else. He uses his childhood memory of the bats to instill fear in his enemies.
The impact of upbringing can finally be seen in Oedipus Rex. Throughout Oedipus’ life, he grew up privileged. As the “son” of King Polybus and Queen Merope of Corinth, he grew up blissfully unaware of his own self. When called a “bastard” by a drunk man at a party, Oedipus continually questions King Polybus but to no avail, as Polybus insists that Oedipus is his real son. After hearing the prophecy that he shall kill his own father, he flees Corinth, believing that he will soon kill King Polybus. If his “parents” had told him the truth of his origin, Oedipus would have never left Corinth and never met King Laius, which would then void the prophecy from being true. It was Polybus and Merope who ultimately led to the downfall of Oedipus.
Through analyzing numerous texts, especially Purple Hibiscus, it’s evident that our upbringing is a major component of what makes us unique. While upbringing isn’t what necessarily defines us, it’s how we respond to it that does. We can choose to either be resilient and fight back like Kambili and Batman, or we can suffer because of it like Oedipus. Ultimately, it’s within our control to determine our path.
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