Epideictic Rhetoric as a Means of Characterisation: An Example of Papa (Eugene) in Chimamanda Ngozi Adichies Purple Hibiscus

This article began with an introduction which gave the theoretical background by high- lighting epideictic as an aspect of rhetoric that was suitable for the analysis of the character of Papa in Adichie’s Purple Hibiscus. For a better understanding of the contribution of rhetoric to literary studies, the study explored the nexus between language, rhetoric, and literature. The study observed that these three disciplines were concerned with communication. Furthermore, the study carried out the analysis of the attractive qualities possessed by Papa that could be praise-worthy followed by the discussion of his unattractive qualities that could be blame-worthy. Based on the above discussion, the study found out that fanaticism and dogmatism were not good qualities of a Christian. Furthermore, the study discovered that use of tyranny and imposition of social restriction should be discouraged in family affairs. Finally, the novel is Adichie’s angry denunciation of religious intolerance in Nigeria.