In this extract, Papa learns about the Papa-Nwunkwu’s painting his children hide from him, which

results in his psychological and physical violence. Papa is an oppressive character who can't stand
against minor failure; therefore, he punishes his children as they keep a painting of a heathen, their
grandfather. The main character, Kambili, tries to defend this painting against her father, although
she has experienced the sense of his father's violence since the beginning of her life. The defiance of
Kambili signifies that she is ready to belligerently show her hidden and oppressed identity rather
than being the shy character the author portrayed throughout the novel. For instance, Kambili says,
"Me, I said." usage of the word "me" clearly shows that Kambili doesn't want to step back from what
she respects this time, although she is aware of what will happen to her, getting beaten by his father.
Adichie created Kambili as a shy character until this point, but this scene shows that things have
started to change in her identity. She is growing up to defend her rights. She was stuttering because
she was afraid that her father was learning about what she did in her daily life. She couldn't speak
because she thought that her father was listening to her. Her rebellion existed after the week that
they stayed in the home of Aunty Ifeoma, where they were free. Psychologically, this outlines the
effect of change in the sociological structure and change in Papa's children's emotions after this week
when they were free and happy. Adichie also envoys the feelings that children in the house have
never felt to convey the idea that they are ready to bring their repressed opinions through violence.
For example, "I suddenly and maniacally imagined Papa-Nwunkwu's body being cut in pieces that
small and stored in a fridge." Adichie expresses how Kambili loves her grandfather and matches the
painting with his body. She doesn't want to lose the memories she spent with him, and that's why
she stubbornly gives fights to stop his father from taking the painting. She resisted until she lost her
comprehensive logic and passed out.

The authorial choices in this extract also demonstrate the impact of violence and create drama that
will result in significant changes in the whole family's identity. The two similes "I lay on the floor
curled tight like the picture of a child in the uterus(.)",and "The metal buckles on his slippers stung
like bites from giant mosquitos." creates the imagery of Papa's violence in the reader's mind. Also, it
shows the cruelty of Papa, which would result in a significant change in the family's perspective to
look at the violence at home because that was too excessive and more than unbearable. Repetitions
also support the imagery of violence in this scene. For example, "Kicking, kicking, kicking." this
repetition of the word "kicking" signifies how brutal the father is and doesn't stop until she leaves the
painting. Also, in that scene, we can see the repressive effect of violence on the mother, and Adichie
underlines this with the words, "A low voice was saying, "Please biko please." Mama's voice is low,
although she sees the violence against her child because she knows that with any mistake
committed, she will be in big trouble and get beaten by Papa. Adichie uses a mother's silence to show
the tragedic drama and the effects of violence at home.

To sum up, violence in the home changes how people behave and affects people's identities.
Sometimes it makes them silent, and sometimes it kindles the light of the rebellion. Also, it changes
people's perspective about the person they are obeying, Papa. Adichie emotionally conveys these
changes in the family by creating tragic drama with the help of violence, and the novel progresses
from a different standpoint after this scene.
In this novel, our main character Kambili is subjected to various pressures, including physical and
psychological violence, by her father, and this leaves effects such as not being able to talk, not being
able to adapt to social life and stuttering.