Post #11: A Sketch of Jaja

Jaja is an important character in the story, as he is quiet and obedient like Kambili, yet also strong-willed and longs to be defiant towards his father.  We see this defiance at the beginning of the story, when he takes the rebellious road and refuses to go to Mass one day.  However, after that, his character becomes more passive, and the only times we hear him speak are when he says something pleasing to his father, or when he and Kambili are alone together.  It is the times when he and Kambili are alone that we see the true Jaja; at these times, he talks about things like wanting to keep their new baby sibling away from his father's wrath, or wanting to go to Aunty Ifeoma's house to get away from him.

There are many different characters that are influential to Jaja, and with each one, a connection can be made to an aspect of his personality.  When he is at his home, Jaja's father, and even Kambili, have a great effect on him.  As seen with Jaja's finger, his father beats him if he does not achieve perfection.  This pressures Jaja to be nothing but well-behaved, hard-working, and obedient to everyone, especially his father, for if he strays from this, another beating is on the way.  Jaja is similar to Kambili in this way, because he can be hesitant, quiet, and almost scared like her, not wanting to cross their father for fear of the consequences.  However, a difference between the two is that while she loves always aims to please their father, he goes through life listening to him but also hating him.  When he goes to Aunty Ifeoma's house, he sees how life could be with such a freedom that his father never allows, and he really likes what he sees.  Aunty Ifeoma's influence on him brings out his connection to Amaka, who is a free spirit who does what she wants and doesn't worry about the consequences.  Though I have not seen it yet, I predict that this connection will revert him back to his rebellious ways, and he will be less afraid of his father.