Purple Hibiscus is a luminous piece of literary work by young Nigerian author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. This is the first novel of the author but has earned high acclamations by the readers across the globe. The author has observed these things in the Nigerian society and the same is reflected in the examples produced by her in the novel from beginning to the end. This paper discusses the novel Purple Hibiscus, other related aspects and also discusses the ending of the novel.
The author presents a true picture of the Nigerian society. The novel suggests that every child, born in the Nigeria is cursed to spend a tyrannical life some way or the other way. The story of Purple Hibiscus revolves around its main character, a fifteen year old girl Kambili Achike who lives with her brother Jaja, her mother and father. Kambili’s father, Eugene (papa) is a rich man and owns several factories. He is also an influential columnist, human rights activist, and an ardent catholic. On the other hand, he is a sadist who behaves very strictly to his own children within the home. His behavior keeps terrorizing his family and he treats his family members as if they were his slaves. The author has portrayed the duality of his character, on the one hand he is a human rights activist who advocates for the human rights and pretends to fight for the rights of others while in his how home, he treats his own children very badly. He is cruel to his children and his wife and does not let a single opportunity go to humiliate his family. The author has tried to expose the people like him who practice duality in their public and personal life. These people are dangerous for the society and the author has proved the same at the end of the novel.
Kambili expresses her agony in these words “I came second in my class. The principal, Mother Lucy, wrote, “A brilliant, obedient student and a daughter to be proud of.” But I knew Papa would not be proud” (Adichie 39).
The abovementioned example informs the readers about the agony that the Kambili used to suffer inside her home. The author clearly indicates that man like papa spoils the childhood of children by their ill behavior. The novel comes to the end with the rage and revenge, the family is shattered. The author has portrayed the whole episode to the readers in a very practical manner. The novel has beautifully portrayed how ill behavior of a person can ruin the family. Adichie has raised a big question for the people like Kambilie’s papa that what do they want, their ego or their family. The abovementioned example shows that it is very important to maintain a healthy atmosphere in the home and among the family members. The things are easy to destroy or to be destroyed but making them is a difficult task.
After having observed the abovementioned analysis of Purple Hibiscus, it is good to say that though every page of the novel portrays the account of suppression, the readers can not afford leaving the novel in between without completing it, once started. The novel is full of massage and presents the factual examples from the practical life.
Work Cited
Adichie, Chimamanda Ngozi. Purple hibiscus: a novel. new York: Anchor Books, 2004.
http://www.curledup.com/hibiscus.htm
http://www.gradesaver.com/purple-hibiscus/study-guide/section16/
