The Twists and Turns in Purple Hibiscus, a Novel by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Category: Books, Purple Hibiscus
Last Updated: 24 Feb 2023
Pages: 4 Views: 81
Table of contents

Superiority of the church

Papa is shown as a man with a lot of power and even is seen as close to god regarding leadership in the church. On page 93 Kambili and Amaka are talking and they're discussing how papa in a way is so powerful altered the religious traditional ways. The quote, "I thought the Igwe was supposed to stay at his place and receive guests. I didn't know he visits people's homes, 'Amaka said, as we went downstairs. 'I guess that's because your father is a big man." Another quote that shows a similar message is "Mama looked at the wall clock, a gift from a charity papa donated to, oval shaped and embossed with his name in gold lettering." This quote shows that because papa is a man of the church he has power over people to make them treat him like he's some type of golden person from heaven. Normally when donating to a charity, you don't receive clocks with your name in gold lettering. The gold lettering seems over the top and why did they have to give him a clock if people are supposed to donate. The Gold lettering symbolized his position and the power he has because of the church.

Colonialism

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Papa and Papa Nnukwu's relationship had drastic faults due to them failing to see eye to eye due to different religious views. Papa explains why Papa is so religious and that the white men changed him. Papa is known to do things similar to the white people. "Papa changed his accent when he spoke, sounding British, just as he did when he spoke to Father Benedict. He was gracious, in the eager-to-please way that he always assumed with the religious, especially with the white religious." on page 46. This quote means that papa is more favorable to the way that white people talked and is in a way showing that he has been influenced by them. A quote on page 168 says, "Chineke! Bless my son, Eugene. let the sun not set on his prosperity. Lift the curse they have put on him." Papa Nnukwu is saying that papa is under a curse and that he was brainwashed and converted by the missionaries.

Fear

A theme of Fear is circulated all around this book and exhibited in most of the characters such as Ade Crocker, Aunty Ifeoma, Jaja, Mama, Amaka and Kambili. A quote that demonstrates fear in majority of the characters is found on page 141, "I stood there, staring at her, wishing Aunty Ifeoma were to speak for me." Kambili informs us that she is afraid to speak up for herself towards amaka when amaka makes little snooty comments towards her. Another circumstance that a quote implies fear from a character is on page 174 when it says, "When liquid fire was raging inside me, when fear mingling with hope and clutching itself around my ankles." This quote also broadcasts fear by relating that kambili shows her quiet ideas and thoughts that she keeps to herself. The quote also tells us that she is overwhelmed with emotions and being scared is one of them.

Self Contradiction

Papa is a great example of Self Contradiction because he sets the best display of this. Papa is a churchman, is incredibly religion, gives to charities, and is a big role model for the local villagers. Although he seen as a very good person he beats his wife and cause her to miscarriage her child. The miscarriage affects kambili because she sees the red blood in her text book while studying this is emphasized on page 35 when kambili can't help but stare at mama's belly and be reminded of the tragic event that occurred. Kambili expresses this by the quote of her saying," I went upstairs then and sat staring at my textbook. The black type blurred, the letters swimming into one another, and was watery, flowing from Mama, flowing from my eyes." Papa also does the opposite actions of his shown character by crying when he punishes his children harshly. When a person cries it means that they show compassion but papa still uses cruel punishment so they don't add up with each other. On page 212 papa is at the bedside of kambili and tells her, "My precious daughter. Nothing will happen to you. My precious daughter". Papa sure raises a lot of questions with this quote by promising kambili she will never get punished again but abuse is a known fact that it gets worse and escalates. He's such a religious man that is near impossible to stop accustomed ways.

Overall this Novel has a lot of twists and turns incorporated into it. The characters are very different and outrageous in their own ways. Every character brings action and emotion into the novel by ending up in eyeballing situations such as papa Nnukwu death. Surprising events that makes the reader really surprised such as Kambili having a crush on the priest to Jaja's rebellious behavior. In general The author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie makes the reader feel a lot of emotions meanwhile leaves us wanting more of the novel and leaves us hanging on the edge of our seat.

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The Twists and Turns in Purple Hibiscus, a Novel by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. (2023, Feb 24). Retrieved from https://phdessay.com/the-twists-and-turns-in-purple-hibiscus-a-novel-by-chimamanda-ngozi-adichie/

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