Kambili

CHARACTER STUDY
Qualities and
Characteristics
- Kambili is very shy throughout the book, she thinks a
lot but doesn’t say much, this maybe due to the way
she is treated by her father.
- However she somewhat idolizes her father despite
fearing his cruel punishments.
- She is very diligent and is able to comply with her
fathers strict schedule and expectations.
- Kambili is extremely uncomfortable in talking with
others and prefers the calm situations.
- After visiting Nsukka Kambili starts to become less
withdrawed and slowly starts to talk more, this may be
because she finds good friends for the first time.
 ‘because I knew that when the tea burned my
tongue, it burned Papa’s love into me.’ This quote is
interesting as it shows that Kambili is accustomed
to pain and take sit likely. She sees it as a way Papa
shows his love to her. This suggests in the past she
may have been physically punished by her father
Quotes because she did something wrong as ‘tough love’.

‘he asked, entirely in Igbo. A bad sign. He hardly

spoke Igbo, and although Jaja and I spoke it with
Mama at home, he did not like us to speak it in
public.’ This quote shows that Kambili is extremely
perceptive and can read people well, as she
instantly knows something bad is going to happen
when her father starts speaking in Igbo.
 “They are always so quiet,” he said, turning to Papa. “So quiet.”
“They are not like those loud children people are raising these
days, with no home training and no fear of God,” This quote
father suggests that Kambili is quiet and it is evident that Her
father is proud of this fact. This may give us insight into why
Kambili is quiet, she may want to impress her father, or perhaps
her father has burned this into her so she stays quiet because
this is a ‘good quality’

Quotes “I did not say anything else until lunch was over, but I listened
to every word spoken, followed every cackle of laughter and
line of banter.” This quote shows that Kambili is a good listener
and although it appears she is simply sitting doing nothing she
is actually carefully listening to every word. This may have
been engrained into her by her father who would want her to
listen to him, her teacher, the priest etc. And that’s it better to
not talk but listen.
Key points in the novel for Kambili
- Kambili coming second in her class in terms of academics. This is the first time
Kambili does not come first and her father is very disappointed.
- Kambili going to see papa Nnukwu is a key event as it is the first time we get a
glimpse of the world outside her life, and it is interesting to see how she reacts to
meeting someone her father would label a heathen. It also is the beginning of her
transition into more of a liberal person.
- Going to Nsukka is another Key moment in Kambili's story as it is the point that
really starts of the bulk of the book and begins this idea of Kambili meeting other
people so different to her father with different ideas and viewpoints. At first she
struggles to understand these people.
Some more key points
- Father Amadis first visit
- Kambili in hospital after being beaten so bad
- Kambili admits she loves father Amadi
- Papa dies
 By the end of the novel Kambili is very
different. After being outside her comfort zone
she starts to learn more about other people and
How Kambili her narrow understanding of life starts to
Has changed change. She idolizes her father less and less
and in some ways becomes more like a normal
by the End of child of her age, more free and able to enjoy
the Novel herself without her overbearing father. At the
end of the novel she is more liberal and
possibly more happy overall, she no longer has
to strictly live by her father.