purple hibiscus

Freedom

Adichie proves that everyone has different viewpoints and opinions of freedom. Adichie also presents her opinions on how she believes that freedom is important for all citizens, and that we should fight for our freedom no matter the cost our yesterday already has had bad experiences, so today we fight for our tomorrow. She suggests that she may believe that it could be worth it to die for freedom, as suggested by the character, Ade Coker, who dies after speaking out against the corrupt government.

Identity

Adichie suggests that there needs to be communication and healthy boundaries in order for someone to form and grow an identity. This is presented best through Jaja and Kambili as he develops his own opinions and thoughts after entering Nsukka with Aunty Ifeoma. He seems to 'blossom'

Silence

Adichie suggests that Silence is the opposite of Identity and Freedom, and silence is the oppressor of the latter two. Adichie suggests that Silence is bad and unnerving in the first few chapters of the novel, especially with Papa, but it can be comforting and maybe even kind near the end of the novel. She presents two types of Silence

Love and family

Love and family are closely intertwined with each other in the novel - the exception being Kambili's non-familial and non-platonic love for Father Amadi. Adichie may suggest to readers how love is not meant to 'hurt' regarding Papa's relationship with the rest of his family - how he continuously abuses his family physically and mentally and disguising it as love he has and it being under Gods will. Perhaps Adichie also attempts to suggest that family can be chosen with Jaja's, Mama's and Kambili's turn against Papa, and their coming closeness with Aunty Ifeoma and her family.

Religion vs Tradition

Adichie seems to suggest that Religion overall is a bad thing when used wrongly - also telling us that Religion is the aftermath of the Colonialism of Nigeria. Religion is used as an excuse for Papa Eugene to abuse his family - especially by saying it is 'God's will' that allows him to. \n Papa Eugene is an example of a extremist regarding religion because it is what the colonisers practice. He goes as far as to say he does not wish to ever see his own father - Papa Nwukwu - as he is not a Catholic. \n Adichie seems to portray religion as an evil at the beginning of the novel, almost as if it were a cult, but slowly showing the reader it can be more friendly.

Papa Eugene is an example of a extremist regarding religion because it is what the colonisers practice. He goes as far as to say he does not wish to ever see his own father

Papa Nwukwu

Violence / death

Violence - especially domestic violence - is portrayed as a casual event but we know that it is not, suggesting that Adichie is telling the reader that we should not stand for violence. She tells us about how love is not meant to be portrayed through violence, and standing up against violence or abuse is always the right option, but depending on how we stand up against it may be the issue. Death is used as a means of oppression or breaking free from oppression, seen in the characters Ade Coker and Papa, but also a opening to a new world, seen in Papa Nwukwu.

Corruption / power

Corruption is present throughout the novel regarding the university that Aunty Ifeoma teaches at and the government. We see that the government has been overthrown over and over again, suggesting the unstable nature of both the household (as a microcosm) and the country itself. Power is seen similarly along the lines of corruption, something which isn't coherently good when one person has too much (seen in the government and the character Papa,) but is seen as a 'good thing' when everyone has thier own individual power.

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Colonialism Colonialism is generally viewed as a negative impact throughout the novel, suggesting that Adichie is trying to tell readers who are from countries that have been colonised by the British or impacted by them in any way that perhaps, the white man way is not the best. This is shown through Papa's character and his violence, especially his reasoning regarding what his actions.

Freedom

Adichie proves that everyone has different viewpoints and opinions of freedom. Adichie also presents her opinions on how she believes that freedom is important for all citizens, and that we should fight for our freedom no matter the cost - our yesterday already has had bad experiences, so today we fight for our tomorrow. She suggests that she may believe that it could be worth it to die for freedom, as suggested by the character, Ade Coker, who dies after speaking out against the corrupt government.

Identity

Adichie suggests that there needs to be communication and healthy boundaries in order for someone to form and grow an identity. This is presented best through Jaja and Kambili - as he develops his own opinions and thoughts after entering Nsukka with Aunty Ifeoma. He seems to 'blossom' - both physically and mentally. Kambili takes more time to grow her own identity and doesn't seem to 'blossom' as much, but she still has a change.

Silence

Adichie suggests that Silence is the opposite of Identity and Freedom - silence is the oppressor of the latter two. Adichie suggests that Silence is bad and unnerving in the first few chapters of the novel, especially with Papa, but it can be comforting and maybe even kind near the end of the novel. She presents two types of Silence - cold, oppressive silence vs comforting, spacious silence.

Love and family

Love and family are closely intertwined with each other in the novel - the exception being Kambili's non-familial and non-platonic love for Father Amadi. Adichie may suggest to readers how love is not meant to 'hurt' regarding Papa's relationship with the rest of his family - how he continuously abuses his family physically and mentally and disguising it as love he has and it being under Gods will. Perhaps Adichie also attempts to suggest that family can be chosen with Jaja's, Mama's and Kambili's turn against Papa, and their coming closeness with Aunty Ifeoma and her family.

Religion vs Tradition

Adichie seems to suggest that Religion overall is a bad thing when used wrongly - also telling us that Religion is the aftermath of the Colonialism of Nigeria. Religion is used as an excuse for Papa Eugene to abuse his family - especially by saying it is 'God's will' that allows him to.

Violence / death

Violence - especially domestic violence - is portrayed as a casual event but we know that it is not, suggesting that Adichie is telling the reader that we should not stand for violence. She tells us about how love is not meant to be portrayed through violence, and standing up against violence or abuse is always the right option, but depending on how we stand up against it may be the issue. Death is used as a means of oppression or breaking free from oppression, seen in the characters Ade Coker and Papa, but also a opening to a new world, seen in Papa Nwukwu.

Corruption / power

Corruption is present throughout the novel regarding the university that Aunty Ifeoma teaches at and the government. We see that the government has been overthrown over and over again, suggesting the unstable nature of both the household (as a microcosm) and the country itself. Power is seen similarly along the lines of corruption, something which isn't coherently good when one person has too much (seen in the government and the character Papa,) but is seen as a 'good thing' when everyone has thier own individual power.

Colonialism

Colonialism is generally viewed as a negative impact throughout the novel, suggesting that Adichie is trying to tell readers who are from countries that have been colonised by the British or impacted by them in any way that perhaps, the white man way is not the best. This is shown through Papa's character and his violence, especially his reasoning regarding what his actions.

Purple Hibiscus

Symbolic of Jaja’s changing character and his defiance, as well as the aftereffects of it. Jaja’s defiance - as with Aunty Ifeoma’s purple hibiscus - is the