Purple Hibiscus: Chapter 4 Summary & Analysis

It remains difficult for Kambili to read, even though her exams are approaching, as she keeps seeing Mama’s blood in the letters. One day she is studying in her room when Yewande Coker, the wife of Ade Coker (Papa’s editor at the Standard) comes to the door sobbing. She says that soldiers have taken Ade away. Papa comforts her, telling her to repeat a Bible verse. Kambili knows that Ade was arrested because the last Standard had printed a story claiming that the Head of State was drug trafficking, and questioning the earlier execution of the three men.

The next week Kambili takes her exams, and then is horrified to see that she has come second in her class, even though the teacher has written her a glowing review. Kambili knows that Papa will not be pleased, and will compare her to his own success, which he achieved despite his “Godless father” Papa-Nnukwu. Kambili feels “stained by failure.”

Kambili gets home and goes to her room. She hears Papa come home and go into Jaja’s room. Jaja had come first in his class, so Kambili imagines Papa hugging him and praising him. Then Papa comes to Kambili’s room and she gives him the report card. He is silent, and then asks about the girl who came first. Kambili says it is Chinwe Jideze, the girl who came second last term when Kambili was first. Papa tells Kambili to come down for dinner.

Kambili is terrified to look at Papa as they eat, and she can hardly swallow her food. After dinner Papa tells her to follow him upstairs. She goes into Papa’s bedroom, where everything is cream-colored and soft looking. Papa starts to chide Kambili for her grades, but then the phone rings. Papa answers it and then motions for Kambili to leave. Papa seems to forget about Kambili’s punishment for a few days after that. He gets Ade Coker out of prison, but his family only finds out by reading it in the Standard. There Ade praises Papa as a brave “man of integrity.” Kambili feels a rush of pride as she reads this. Papa says that the paper will have to publish underground now.

There is a two-week break from school, and on the last weekend Mama takes Jaja and Kambili to get new sandals and bags. Kambili notices the crowds of the poor at the market, and then sees a group of soldiers around a woman who is tearing her hair and crying in the dirt. Mama tries to shield the children from seeing. Kambili sees another woman spit on a soldier, and then sees the soldier whip her. Another soldier kicks down stalls selling fruits. As they drive home Kambili cannot stop thinking about the woman in the dirt.

On Monday Papa drives Kambili to school, instead of Kevin taking her as he usually does. They pass a beggar and Papa throws some money to him. Kambili’s school, the Daughters of the Immaculate Heart Secondary School, is surrounded by high walls with broken glass on top. Papa had decided on this school because he liked the walls, which enforced discipline.

They go into the school grounds and Papa asks Kambili to take him to her class. One of the white nuns sees him and starts talking excitedly. Papa affects a British accent when he speaks to her, just as he does with Father Benedict. Papa tells the sister that he is just there to see Kambili’s class. Papa and Kambili go on and come to the group of girls standing outside the door.

Papa asks Kambili to point out Chinwe Jideze for him. Papa says that Chinwe does not have any more heads than Kambili, so Kambili should not let her come in first. Papa then gives the lecture Kambili had expected, about his own hard childhood, how hard he worked, how he escaped his idol-worshiping father with the help of the Catholic missionaries. Then Papa leaves and tells Kambili that Kevin will pick her up.

The class begins with a hymn, a prayer, and then the Nigerian national anthem. Then a student always recites the pledge. Today the sister chooses Kambili to say it. Kambili knows the words, but she cannot make herself speak. She starts sweating as everyone stares at her. Finally she stutters and starts the pledge.

The students go into their classrooms and a girl named Ezinne asks Kambili about her holiday. She brings up the fact that Kambili came in second last term, but says that her parents must still be proud of her. Meanwhile Chinwe goes around the room asking for votes so that she will remain the class prefect. She noticeably skips Kambili. Chinwe comes from a rich family just like Kambili, but Chinwe is very popular and the other girls copy her style. Kambili, in contrast, spends all her free time studying.

Ezinne tells Kambili that Chinwe started the rumor that Kambili is a “backyard snob” and that she thinks she is “too big” because she doesn’t ever talk to the other girls, or walk with them after school instead of running off. Kambili does this, though, because she knows that she must run to Kevin’s car and get home on time or else Papa will be angry. One time she was late and he slapped her face with both hands. Kambili doesn’t tell Ezinne this, though; she just says that she likes running.