Themes in Purple Hibiscus[1]

8/3/2019 Themes in Purple Hibiscus[1]

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Themes in

Purple Hibiscus


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Main Themes / Issues

1. From oppression to freedom

2. Growing up/Search for Identity

3. The Post-colonial legacy4. Domestic Violence and its effects

5. Religion

Also: disintegration, language, silence.


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Todays music: Fela Kuti

Born in Nigeria 1938 Studied music in London Played jazz music / high-life music in Nigeria

During Biafran war went to LA Introduced to the ideas of Malcolm X and Black

Panthers. Created Afro-beat music

Songs criticise the military regimes for crimes Dreamed of Alternative society. Built a fence

around house and declared it Kalakuta republic


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Fela Kuti 2

His act of defiance was punished. Arrests, imprisonmentand beatings.

Became more and more outspoken and record saleswent up

70ssong Zombie satire of military. At one concert,riots broke out and group was arrested. Married 27 girls Formed own political party Movement of the People ran for president in 1979 but was refused

Imprisoned in 1984 on trumped up charges Critic of colonialism, became spokesperson for Africa Died in 1997. 1 million people attended his funeral.


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Theme 1: From Oppressionto Freedom

Oppression

Freedom Military dictatorship Activism

Domestic violence Loving family

Silence Speaking out

Colonialism Post colonialism

reclaim culture


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1. From Oppression to Freedom

Oppression in national context:

Nigeria is oppressed by a military dictatorBig Oga. Human rights abuses: e.g.

disappearance + murder of pro-democracy activist Nwankiti Ogechi

Ade Cokers death by letter bomb No freedom of speech


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Historical context:Oppression in Nigeria

Novel is based on the time under theAbacha and Babangida juntas.

Country ruled by tyrants: Gen Sani Abacha

took power and dissolved all democraticpolitical institutions.

After a strike in the oil industry, he closed

down media Only after his death in 1998 did things

change


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Nigerias history

1960s: Igbo people struggled for anindependent state of Biafra and engaged in civilwar to separate from Nigeria

War lasted 2 years and claimed over 1 milliondeathsfrom military action, disease andstarvation.

This is the time period that Eugene and Beatrice

would have experienced as young adults Following this, a historian writes that Nigeria

created a blanket of silence about Biafra.


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Images from the Biafran war


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Oppression in family context

Papa oppresses Mama, Jaja and Kambili byimposing his will in every aspect of theirlives, e.g.

overly cruel punishments when they failto live up to his high expectations

Regularly beats Mama

Childrens schedules limit their freedom Discourages independence of thought or

action


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How did Eugene become anoppressor?

He is a colonial product became self-

loathing (Igbo language, culture)

His inferiority complexrejects traditionalIgbo ways and his own father

He was oppressed as a child. Hisexperience ofhumiliation and punishmentby priests as a boy began a cycle of guiltand cruel forms of penance


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Readers response to oppression

We are forced to examine our reactions tooppression

Scenes of abuse are compelling

Eugene as a tyrant is fascinating We cant stop reading we are

attracted/repelled at same time: We..condonePapas sadistic brutalisation of his family through

the simple act of continuing to read. LikeKambili we are forced to juxtapose Papas evilside to his loving alter ego. (T.S. da Silva)


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Message 1: Oppression willcontinue when people are silent

In the family, Kambili, Jaja and Mama tend toremain silent, not even acknowledging Papasviolence a form ofself-censorship. E.g. Imsorry your figurines broke, Mama.

This is a classic behaviour of the victim-family ina domestic abuse situation.

Eugene is proud of his childrens quiet

obedience, but Ade Coker rightly asks, Imaginewhat the Standardwould be if we were allquiet. P. 57


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Message 2: Language is connectedto freedom

The novel connects Freedom to Speak v.Silence of the oppressed.

In contrast to K and J: Ifeomas children

Obiora and Amaka show their relativefreedom in their loud laughter throaty,cackling sounds pushed out withenthusiasm (78)

The Standardis one of the few weaponsleft in a time of a military regime


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Ade Coker

After Ade Coker returns after his arrest bysoldiers he writes about the value offreedom: how his pen would not, could

not, stop writing the truth.p. 42:

Government agents had tried to bribe

Papa with a truckful of dollars (200) buthe asks them to leave the house. Theyalso breakoff the hibiscus flowers.


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How the Govt destroyed theirFreedom of Speech

Soldiers destroy of the office ofThe Standard:The soldiers took every copy of the entire printrun, smashed furniture and printers, locked theoffices, took the keys and boarded up the doorsand windows.P. 146

This destruction is reminiscent of Eugenesviolence (smashing figurines) following Jajaexercising his freedom of speech.

The govt also do not allow the university to electtheir own sole administrator. This leads toprotests. P. 223


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The irony within Eugene

Eugene supports political freedom yetlimits the freedom of his family so harshly

Ade acknowledges his publisher Eugene,as a man of integrity, the bravest man Iknow.

He agrees to publish on Nwankiti Ogechirather than run the story on Big Oga.


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One side of Eugene:the man of integrity

He cared about his staff and understood theimportance of them publishing the truth so

much he made The Standardpublish from asecret location.

Government agents: men in black who yankedhibiscuses off as they lefthad tried to bribePapa with a truckful of dollars(200) but heasks them to leave the house.


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Message 3:Breaking the cycle of violence

Hilary Mantel writes:

If a victim of child abuse is tobreak thecycleand avoid handing on the pattern of

violence to the next generation, she needsawitnessin her likesomeone whorecognises what is happening andrepresents some assurance that there areother valueswho assures the victim thatshe islovableand has potential for good.


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Aunty Ifeoma the witnessHOW DOES SHE HELP TO FREE KAMBILI AND

JAJA FROM THEIR FATHERS OPPRESSION? She destroysthe childrens schedule They see her children are independent and live

without fear She teaches them their grandfather is not a

heathen but a traditionalistand allows them toget to know him

She is a role model who speaks freely and tells

the truth She represents a proud ancient forebear for

Kambili as she Speak[s] to her Spirits].


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Nsukka the place where the cycleis broken

Nsukka is associated with the purple hibiscus,the symbol of new growth and freedom.

End of book: Kambili returns to Nsukka to visit

the new family in Ifeomas flat and laughs loudlyon the way back : Because Nsukka could freesomething deep inside your belly that would riseup to your throat and come out as a freedom

song. As laughter.299


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Nsukka how do Kambili & Jajatransform while here?

At Nsukka Jaja and Kambili areempowered to break their silence andembrace defiance

Jaja confides in Aunty Ifeoma about finger Jajas shoulders seemed broader within

a week (p. 154)

It allows them to reclaim their Igbo roots(learn Igbo traditions, know PapaNnukwu)


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Message 4: Breaking Silence withDefiance

Defiance is like marijuana it is not a bad thingwhen it is used rightIfeoma tells Jaja, p.14.

[Defiance = refusal to obey authority]

Jajas open defiance of Papa on Palm Sunday isthe turning point of the novel (He refuses totake communion and says Father Benedictmakes him feel nauseous)

Kambili learns to defy Papa after Nsukka(Portrait of Papa Nnukwu)

Mamas defiance is more stealthy. She poisonshis tea.


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Other characters who are defiant

Ade Coker speaks the truth.

Father Amadirejects the rigid Colonialstyle Catholicism and its materialism. He

reclaims the Igbo language and does notjudge non believers.

Aunty Ifeoma is not afraid to defy

university authorities. She also defiesEugene and insists on an Igbo burial forPapa Nnukwu.


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Message 5: The risks of defianceThe death of Nwankiti Ogechi

Nwankiti Ogechi is a pro-democracy activist whodied a martyr in the attempt to bring greaterfreedom to Nigeria

He is possibly based on activist Ken Saro-Wiwa

In the family context, Jaja is his equivalent, ashe sacrifices himself.

Big Ogas regime kill Nwankiti Ogechi byshooting him and pouring acid on him.

This parallels Eugenes punishment of pouringhot wateron K and Js feet a carefullycalculated form of cruelty. Not just emotion.


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Risks of Defiance 2

DANGER. Democratic coalition come to warnPapa to be careful: Dont go to public places.Remember the bomb blast in the airport Lockyour doors.p 201

FURTHER OPPRESSION After govt interferesand restricting freedoms of Uni staff. Ifeoma isdefiant & students chant and sing Soleadministrator must go university is closeddown p. 228

INTIMIDATION: A special security unit turns upto search Ifeomas house to scare her p231


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However, the novel shows us thatdefiance to oppression is necessary

Mamas actions seemjustified afterenduring years of abuse

Jajas action of accepting punishment formurder of Papa shows his yearning to befree from the shadow of his father.

Ade Coker is shown to be a hero

Aunty Ifeoma and Amaka are symbols ofhope / strength of Nigerian women.


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Healing and hope

Jaja says to Kambili about Ade Cokersdaughter She will never heal. She mayhave started talking now, but she will

never heal. p.259

However, it is implied the future is morehopeful for Kambili:

The new rains will come down soon.


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Message 6:Love can grow in Freedom

Love thrives where freedom blossoms.(Anthony.C Ola)

Kambili and Jaja never experience real

loveuntil Aunty Ifeomas home Jaja falls in love with the purple hibiscus

and the stability of the family

Kambili falls in love with Father Amadi They learn to love their cousins and

grandfather


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What to do next?

Dilemma of what to do during a time ofoppression Obiora favours leaving, moving to

America; but Amaka says that running away is

not the answer p.232 Chiaku says: (in response to Ifeomas plan to

go to USA) -The educated ones leave, the oneswith the potential to right the wrongs. They

leave the weak behind. The tyrants continue toreign because the weak cannot resist. Whowill break that cycle?p. 245


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References

Da Silva T. S., Family Life in Shades ofPurple.

Mabura, Lily. Breaking Gods an AfricanPostcolonial Gothic reading of PurpleHibiscus.

Mantel, Hilary. Purple Hibiscus review.

Whitechurch, E. Purple Hibiscus review.


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ESSAY QUESTION

Consider how you would answer:

Analyse how a text you have studiedstrengthened or changed your opinion of atopic or issue.

Documents

Themes in Purple Hibiscus[1]