Purple Hibiscus Essay
In the book Purple Hibiscus by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, the main protagonist, Kambili, struggles with her relationship with her father, Eugene. Kambili’s father, a very devout, strict and wealthy catholic. Eugene is kind to those in his community, providing money, food and acting kind towards those he meets. However, he is cold and unforgiving to his own family, often beating them and subjecting them to psychological cruelty. As a result, Kambili becomes unable to voice her own opinions and talking in a hushed voice becomes a habit for her. When she and her brother, Jaja goes to her aunt, Aunt Ifeoma, she discovers a completely different world. The experiences at her own house and the experiences that she had at
…show more content…
With the conflict of complete opposite parent-child dynamics, Kambili compares and contrasts these two relationships and learns from each one of them to mature into a young woman. “Imagine what the Standard would be if we were all quiet.’ It was a joke. Ade Coker was laughing; so was his wife, Yewande. But Papa did not laugh. Jaja and I turned and went back upstairs, silently.” Although Papa and Ade Coker seek to reveal the truth about the Nigerian government through the Standard, the Achike children are urged not to tell the truth about their own lives. In Papa’s perspective, being a good Nigerian entails two things - exposing corruption and strict adherence to faith. Papa believes that it is his duty to deliver his country and children to heaven. He holds up both to extremely high standards. Even though he is considered a hero for fighting corruption, his actions inside his own home make him a monster as Mama, Jaja and Kambili come to realize. On the other hand, Aunt Ifeoma is very liberal towards her own children. As a result, Aunt Ifeoma’s children are confident, able to speak their own mind and inquisitive. “Morality, as well as the sense of taste, is relative.” Obiora, as the son of a university professor in African studies, is encouraged to question authority. This statement opposes what Kambili and Jaja are taught. They are only offered one path to success. This discourse is at the heart of the book. There are no moral absolutes in Purple Hibiscus. Kambili loves her father even though he abuses her and her faith remains strong even when it is used as a tool for repression. Kambili learns this on her journey. Therefore, Kambili and Jaja both mature into adults, after gaining two different perspectives on faith, religion and
Much about Kogawa's novel makes it difficult not only to read but also to classify or categorize. First, Obasan blurs the line between nonfiction and fiction. Kogawa draws from actual letters and newspaper accounts, autobiographical details, and historical facts throughout the novel, but she artistically incorporates this material into a clearly fictional work. In addition, Kogawa's narrative operates on multiple levels, from the individual and familial to the communal, national, political, and spiritual. Stylistically, the novel moves easily between the language of documentary reportage and a richly metaphorical language, and between straightforward narrative and stream-ofconsciousness exposition. This astonishing variety in Kogawa's novel can, at times, become bewildering and unsettling to the reader. But as many readers and critics have noted, Kogawa's style and method in Obasan also constitute the novel's unique strength. Kogawa writes in such a way that ambiguity, uncertainty, irony, and paradox do not weaken her story but instead paradoxically become the keys to understanding it.
Since Sister was affected the most by certain actions of the family, Welty narrated this short story through Sister’s point of view to show how the function of the family declined through these actions. Sister was greatly affected when her sister broke the bonds of sisterhood by stealing her boyfriend and marrying him. Secondly, Sister was affected by the favoritism shown by her family towards her younger sister. Since her sister was favored more than her, this caused her to be jealous of her sister. For example, Sister shows a lot of jealousy by the tone she uses when describing what Stella-Rondo did with the bracelet that their grandfather gave her. Sister’s description was, “She’d always had anything in the world she wanted and then she’d throw it away. Papa-Daddy gave her this gorgeous Add-a-Pearl necklace when sh...
These characters, however different they lie on the morality scale, all share the sinful trait of greed. They all ask, and take too much, ruining what the good that they had in their lives. Understanding their mistakes offers its useful readers a lesson, not to demand too much of the things we are offered. The characters struggle with their desires, each of them succombing to their passions.
In the novel Secret Daughter, it is continuously proven that blood relations are not the only element that binds a family. The main character, Asha starts off as an immature and inconsiderate girl. After making the discovery of her biological parents, Asha feels extremely upset and disconcerted. Paradoxically, however, Asha later realizes the true meaning of family and develops into a mature and understanding individual. In Shilpi Somaya Gowda's Secret Daughter, Asha changes from an immature and inconsiderate character to a mature and understanding one, because of a major turning point, which forces her to be extremely upset and disconcerted.
In Purple Hibiscus, Mama has limits to what she can do. The effects of these limitations are the behavior shown throughout the story. When Adichie writes about Mama's development throughout the story, it goes to show how certain events can either drastically change a person's identity or show no change at all. Therefore, Adichie shows the change of Mama's identity
Okonkwo has murdered, beaten, and cast off those he loved throughout his life. He remained stubborn and violent until his last days, and yet through his internal struggle, and sparse, yet endearing loves Okonkwo is still perceived to be morally indefinite. Okonkwo may not be considered by western culture to be a good person, but viewing his life in its entirety, it is almost impossible for one to attach a completely negative label to him. By telling the story of Okonkwo's life, Chinua Achebe, creates a dynamic and morally ambiguous protagonist while addressing the moral issue of Christian evangelism in Africa.
The influence family members can have on the development of a child is enormous; they can either mold a healthy mind or drive a child toward darkness. Jennifer Egan’s Safari is a short story that highlights the different relationships in a family with a complicated background. Rolph and Charlie come from a divorced household and join their father, Lou, and his new girlfriend, Mindy, on an African safari. As the events of the trip unfold, Lou’s children experience a coming of age in which they lose the innocence they once possessed. The significant impact of family dynamic on children’s transition into adulthood is presented in Safari. Jennifer Egan uses Mindy’s structural classifications of Charlie and Rolph to demonstrate how Lou and Mindy’s relationship hinders the maturation of the two kids.
In the novel Purple Hibiscus, by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, a character named Beatrice also known as Mama, has many dynamic traits. Mama is a religious woman who respects and highly prioritizes her family. Mama’s husband Eugene becomes more abusive toward her children and herself which causes her to lose her unborn baby. In Mama’s mind and heart, she knows she has to protect her children so she makes the decision to poison Eugene. Mama’s character changes throughout the book, as she first starts as a very quiet and caring character but as Eugene’s abusiveness increases, it develops her into becoming a perpetrator that caused her to be very depressed.
Hansberry promotes a sense of African heritage through her character, Beneatha. She characterizes Beneatha as a college student struggling to find her identity, who tries to achieve such by getting in touch with her roots. The author expresses Beneatha’s struggle with the arguments between her and the rest of her family, namely her mother, Lena. Beneatha tries to express her opinions and ideas, yet because she is the youngest in the household, she tends to feel confined and restricted. Hansberry states Beneatha’s conflict when she writes “Why? Why can’t I say what I want to around here like everybody else?” (Hansberry 39). This statement reveals how Beneatha feels as though her family lacks an understanding of her feelings as well as an appreciation of her opinion, thus leading to her feeling of needing to discover herself. Only when she begins to embrace the idea of returning to her African roots, an idea first given to her by the African exchange student, Asagai, does Beneatha’s mood appear happier and lighter. Upon Asagai’s presentation of a traditional Nigerian dress to her, Beneatha seems elated, and begins to contemplate wearing her natural hair after he comments “You wear it well—very well—mutilated hair and all” (Hansberry 48). Although, Beneatha’s happiness may in some cases be attributed to possible infatuation, Hansberry shows her true passio...
Chinua Achebe analyzes a culture he is not accustomed with. The Madwoman in the attic theory comes into play as a westerner writing about “savage Africa”. Things Fall Apart provides an important understanding of Africana identity and history for those in the West who may be unfamiliar with African culture. Achebe tackles female identity within this book with delicacy keeping with the Ibo view of female nature in the background of the story but the forefront of the reader’s mind. A discussion of womanhood must touch upon manhood because they operate as a complementary, opposing, and equal entity.
The amount of female support Kambili receives in Nsukka from Aunty Ifeoma and Amaka ultimately help her gain confidence and show her the meaning of what it feels like to be free from male dominance. Aunty Ifeoma illustrates that she is not afraid to speak her mind in any situation especially when you have done no wrong. When Papa abused Kambili after she dove after the ripped painting of Papa-Nnukwu, Aunty Ifeoma immediately spoke and sai...
...eruption of violence. Though we do not see any abuse in this first chapter, Kambili’s fear is palpable. Her concern for the well-being of her brother signifies not only the punishments they have received in the past, but also that Jaja’s behavior is new. This is a coming of age story for Jaja as well.
The change that is confronted by this culture affect various characters in different ways. How Christianity is being introduced also affects the Ibo people and their experience of transition. Mr. Brown is the first missionary that travels to Umuofia one of the clans of the Ibo society. As he attempts to establish Christianity he uses a method of “diplomatic exchange” in which he uses the technique of comprehension, understanding and non-aggression between the group he is guiding and the clan.
As with many surface readings I have performed as a student of literature, however, my perspective on The Joys of Motherhood began to evolve. First, I realized and accepted Nnu Ego's failure to react against oppressive forces in order to bring about change for herself and the daughters of Africa; I consoled myself, reasoning that the novel still deserves the feminist label because it calls attention to the plight of the African woman and because its author and protagonist are female. Rereading the novel, however, also triggered the silencing of my initial response. I focused on such passages as the dying wish of Ona, Nnu Ego's mother, who implored Agbadi, Nnu Ego's father, ...
The drama surrounds the story of a young woman called Anowa who disobeys her parents by marrying Kofi Ako, a man who has a reputation for indolence and migrates with him to a far place. Childless after several years of marriage Anowa realises that Kofi had sacrificed his manhood for wealth. Upon Anowa’s realisation Kofi in disgrace shoots himself whiles Anowa too drowns herself.