Complete Purple Hibiscus notes for IB English Language and Literature (Paper 2). Notes have been compiled from various literature journals as well as class notes. Includes themes, character analysis, various literary & stylistic devices used, all of which has been explained in detail with the relev...
Table of Contents
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,Synopsis:
- Story told through Kambili Achike’s eyes, 15, member of a wealthy family of high socio-economic status dominated by a devoutly Catholic father, Eugene
o Kambili, Beatrice (mother), and Jaja (brother) subjected to beatings and psychological cruelty
- Bildungsroman novel – traces psychological and moral growth from childhood to maturation, highlighting the change and transformation
o Story about the disintegration of the family and Kambili’s struggle to grow to maturity
- Key period takes place at Kambili’s aunt, Ifeoma’s house, where she and her brother stayed at for awhile
o Though Catholic, her household offers a marked contrast to what Kambili and Jaja are used to
Practices a different form of Catholicism; happy, liberal place that encourages its members to speak their minds
Led to Kambili and Jaja becoming more open and more able to voice their own opinions
Kambili also falls in love with Father Amadi, a young priest, which awakens her sense of her own sexuality
o Kambili accepted everything her father taught in the beginning, begins to question his convictions & methods after being exposed to a different culture and way
of thinking in Nsukka
Achike’s household a microcosm of Nigerian society after the withdrawal of British colonisers
- Beatrice eventually unable to cope with Eugene’s continued violence and poisons him
o Jaja eventually takes the blame and ends up in prison
- Novel ends 3 years after the events on a cautiously optimistic note – where Kambili becomes a young woman of 18, more confident than before
o Jaja is also about to be released from prison – hardened but not broken by his experience there
o Beatrice shows small signs of improvements despite having deteriorated psychologically to a great degree
Suggests that a better future was possible, but what it involved and the extent of it remains an open question
- “Breaking Gods – Palm Sunday”, ‘Speaking with Our Spirits – Before Palm Sunday’, ‘The Pieces of Gods – After Palm Sunday’ & ‘A Different Silence – The Present’
o Not chronological; commences in the past, at the Palm Sunday family meal of Achike family (key point of story) back to past to detail the events leading-up
concludes in present
o Fragmented chapters symbolic of dysfunctional and disconnected family structure
o Breaking Gods:
‘Gods’ referring to traditional Nigerian gods/Papa
‘Breaking’ suggests destruction of faith
Eg. Jaja’s absence in Holy Communion – direct threat to Papa as God and spiritual leader of the house
- Story focuses on women and what they go through in life – love for their family, respect for their husbands despite being treated shabbily, and how some were able
to say no to all forms of violence/subjugation by menfolk
o Tyrannical, wicked and hypocritical life of Eugene serves as a typical example of the patriarchal way of life found in some families, especially Africa
- “Although the physical growth remains a defining feature of the genre, its prominence is only defined and determined by the psychological development of the
character in parallel to the physical growth.”
Quick summary:
- Kambili discovers that her father, a staunch Catholic with a multifaceted personality that can only be captured in a series of paradoxes: an affluent businessman who
makes large donations to the local church but displays little of this generosity towards his father, a follower of traditional Igbo religion whom he repeatedly refers to
as a ‘heathen’
o Speaks up against Nigerian military dictatorship in the newspaper her publishes, but frequently beats his family up – brutal imposition of his extremist religious
views
- Kambili and Jaja provisionally escape the suffering atmosphere when they were invited by Aunty Ifeoma (a widow, Eugene’s sister) to spend a few days at Nsukka at
her place, who lived in a small apartment with her 3 children
o House resounds with chatter and laugher despite the financial challenges faced by the family; relaxed environment
Provides the children with an alternative model to the climate of fear that pervades the paternal home, giving them a new-found sense of serenity symbolised
by their aunt’s experimental, hybrid purple hibiscus
,Setting/Author’s life
- Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Nigeria, born in 1977
o Grew up in a liberal and intellectual family who allowed her free expression – stark contrast to the oppression experienced in Kambili’s household
o Drew on her experience and knowledge of Catholicism to provide contrasting portrayals of Father Benedict and Father Amadi
o Hometown of Enugu, adopted town of Nsukka, ancestral town of Abba
o Although not directly affected by the violence, Adichie’s values and ideas were shaped in adverse conditions of a country embattled by tyranny & freedom, order
and chaos
Believes that Africans should take charge of African land, wealth, lives and the burden of African development
Not possible to advocate independence for continent without also believing that African women must have the best that the environment can offer
Efforts made to reinvigorate national tradition and cultures, developing a national self-worth to combat years of colonial influence
o Hopeful element for Nigeria’s future maintained to the end
Presents that Nigeria is not a hopeless case
“There are people [in America]… who think we cannot rule ourselves because of the few times we tried, and failed, as if all the others who rule themselves
today got it right the first time. It is like telling a crawling baby who tries to walk, and then falls back on his buttocks, to stay there. As if the adults walking
past him did not all crawl, once” (Pg. 301) (use of analogy)
- Purple Hibiscus first published in 2003, won various awards
- Set in postcolonial Nigeria, country beset by political instability and economic difficulties
o Inspired by Nigerian history and tragedies forgotten by recent generations of westerners
- Ade Coker modelled after Dele Giwa, a journalist and outspoken critic of the Nigerian government
Context/Purpose
Context Elaboration
1. Historical/ - Britain had control & administrative power from late 19 th century to 1960s – Nigeria gained independence
Political o Even though Nigeria gained its independence from the British, its influence can still be seen across the various contexts in the country
context (political, economic and socio-cultural mechanisms)
o English established as the language of administration and education through colonialism
Also encouraged by work of Christian missionaries – converted a significant proportion of population to Catholics
Communities later embraced other forms of Christianity but English remained the dominant language of worship
40% of Nigerian population are Christians today
o Despite gaining independence, government lacked stability
Military coups took place, rival factions struggled to take power (fight for control)
- Nigerian civil war; political strife
- Repressive rulers of Nigeria – demanded that its people remain silent
o Eugene’s zealotry serves as an attack on the leaders who used religious sentiments to stir up conflict
o Neglect of indigenous African values; religious riots in north of Nigeria; unrest and chaos
Attacked by Papa’s character
“I had examined him that day, too, looking away when his eyes met mine, for signs of indifference, of Godlessness. I didn’t see any,
but I was sure they were there somewhere. They had to be.” (Pg. 63)
o Military rule operates through sheer force
State has historically used violence to silence its opposition & maintain status quo among those ruled over/the people
- Events in book mirror reign of General Sani Abacha from 1993-1998 (death)
o Dissolved all existing political institutions which had some resemblance of democracy in 1993
o ‘closed down’ all media outlets in 1994-1995 following a strike in oil industry
Adichie makes reference to the hardships faced by the general population (Eg. fuel, water shortages)
- Ade Coker’s brutal murder reflects dangers of those who fought for democracy
- ‘Big Oga’ a fictionalised representation of General Abacha
- Death of Nwankiti Ogechi draws parallels with Ken Saro-Wiwa, a writer and Nigerian human rights activist
, 2. Cultural - Introduction of new religion, Roman Catholicism, to Igbo people created resentment and division among them
context
3. Social context - Mirrors real life of people in Nigeria
o Characters subjected to a number of forms of subjugation
Aside from the elite, (Eg. Eugene), Nigerians were often forced to go without modern necessities
- Patriarchal society
o Division of labour by gender
Main source of income for women from farming, making and selling homemade products in local market
o Men dominant over women in virtually all areas
Customary for Nigerian man to have more than 1 wife; large families
o Few women active in the political & professional areas
Still play significant roles in the country, especially in rural areas
o Female stereotypes of women being seen as sexual objects, mothers, daughters, mistresses & goddesses conform with traditional
patriarchal view of women being inferior to men
‘Good’ woman in sub-Saharan Africa deemed as one who suffers the effects of oppression and neglect while maintaining silence and
passivity in face of radical change to remain good; silence and passivity as 2 principal features
Embodiment of culture and tradition
However, passivity and docility used as a fodder for objectification by patriarchy
Feminism hence is a reaction to such stereotypes
a renaissance/framework that aims to establish healthy relationships among people/directly opposes sexism by supporting gender
equality
- Igbo language represents old culture which Kambili’s father seemingly rejects wholeheartedly
o Beatrice uses Igbo when speaking to the kids vs. Eugene rarely using it, stating that they must sound respectable and use English
4. Physical setting Enugu: Nsukka:
- Highlights clash between African and Western civilisation - Rural, dusty university town
and dichotomy between urban and rural settings - Site of the children’s physical and intellectual freedom (Kambili & Jaja)
o South eastern Nigerian towns of Enugu, Nsukka & Abba o “Nsukka started it all” (Pg. 16)
predominantly populated by Igbos o Freedom and maturity of cousins enables Kambili to grow
- Sprawling metropolis that represents Western civilisation - Not wealthy, but home is colourful and lively; richness of life in the house
site of industrialisation & development o Jaja’s sanctuary
- Material wealth, but repressive and lack of love o may not be blessed with material wealth, but experience spiritual
- Similar to a prison – keeping the evils of the world out fulfilment at home
o Contributes to Kambili’s naivety about the wider world - Knowledge prioritised
Kambili not given room to grow; restricted; repressed - Home of the purple hibiscus
Purpose - Provides insight into mind of postcolonial hybrid; witness Nigeria in state of postcolonial flux
o disconnected from its ethnic identity and living under an oppressive ruler
- Characterisation of Kambili used to communicate the Nigerian people’s collective angst concerning the socio-political state of their country
- Challenges dehumanising tendencies of menfolk (T: Feminism)
o Believes in liberal feminism
Liberal feminism advocates for equality, radical feminism advocates for dominance of women over men
- Highlight how silence is used as a weapon of patriarchy
Relevance to - Many women in our contemporary society too live like Beatrice
readers/current o Some have exited their domestic violence, while others are still suffering in silence
society
, er
Kambili - Voiceless character - Kambili’s voicelessness and silence in Eugene’s house a rhetorical device for Nigerians suffering under the
o Symbolic representation of ruled repressive rule of Nigerian governance
citizenship in Nigeria without a o Seldom speaks, often stutters/whispers, does not laugh or smile
voice o Repeats the phrase “my words would not come” throughout the story
Can only come into a woman - Her silence, however, may not be merely a form of oppression by rather, a characteristic mode of
being when she gains her voice resistance to Eugene (and his violence)
o Communicates Nigerian people’s o Rarely talks aloud with Jaja, often communicate using their eyes about subjects which Eugene may
collective angst concerning the disapprove
socio-political state of their society - Recounts traumatic events ‘without judgement’
- Emotionless, dispassionate - Goes an extra mile in self-reading
- Competitive
Eugene - Religious extremist - His prayers, however, concern the judgement of those he deemed as immoral
o His religion, however, breeds fear, o “urging God to bring the downfall of the Godless men ruling our country”
scrupulousness and absolute - Uses his religious extremism to justify behaviour; metes out punishments as if he were God/medieval all-
adherence to strict rules powerful sovereign
o Observance of Catholic rites and - Revengeful & discriminatory – disassociates himself from people who do not identify with his religious ideal
doctrines borders on fanatical o Led to Kambili not being able to come into personal contact/develop a personal relationship with God
Ends up adopting Eugene’s spirituality – mechanical spirituality that seeks church approval in
whatever she does
- Used faith to do both evil and good
o To control his family and as a reason to punish them
Blindfolds his family into believing him without questioning
o Gives generously to people in need as a Christian duty
- Violent anger - Has authority, but actions and motivations render it questionable
o Shows remorse after - Symbolic of the ruling dictator while the rest of the families symbolic of oppressed victims
o Dominates his (silent) wife - Does not behave like an individual – eg. relationship with Papa-Nnukwu
o Horrific punishment on his family - Imitative character – submissiveness and dependence towards authority forced upon the learner
- Belligerent o Vs. Ifeoma and her children – Amaka & Obiora embodies intercultural pedagogy where characters are
- Dominant, aggressive presence in encouraged to develop their own identities and critically examine and question the world around them
household
- Morally strong - Owner of The Standard, an anti-government and establishment magazine whose praise worthy feats earn
o Supports Ade Coker & human him Amnesty World
rights o Spoke out for freedom
- Benevolent - Well-known and highly respected by his town for open-handedness, kindness and large-heartedness; Locals
- Philanthropic, gives vast amounts to regarded him as a ‘Big Man’; Earned title of Omelora & takes pride in it
charity o Single-handedly footed bill of Christian religious programmes arranged & organised by women in his
- Of high status parish
- Socially successful o Gave alms to less privileged, provided employment for the unemployed
o Helped pay other people’s children’s school fees
- Stood by Ade Coker’s wife, assisted her to widow through hard times
- Has sense of social consciousness that is expansive, proactive and useful despite his fundamentalism
o Can be seen as a critique of fundamentalism, but also as a figure whom Nigerians can learn from
o Flawed personality represents ambiguous gains of converted Africans
Westernised - Conditioned by colonialism & new-colonialism
- Dismisses Igbo heritage as primitive - Psychologically complex character that abhors traditional values
- Refuses to let his children speak Igbo o Thinks of himself as being modern and civilised
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