Purple Hibiscus as a Call Against Domestic Violence

Introduction

The expression 'canon' originates from the Latin signifying 'rule,' and has come to allude to an assortment of writings that is involved the most representative works of a culture, religion, time period, nation, language, or author. Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie tells a story through the narrator Kambili. Kambili is a young teenage girl whose father uses violence towards his family to enforce his rules so he will not be disobeyed or disrespected. This novel should be read by popular audiences as part of their secondary/ post-secondary education. Domestic violence and oppression is still an ongoing problem in Nigeria, Purple Hibiscus demonstrates the negative impacts of violence on individuals. The canon of Nigeria should be included in the academic canon, not only for education but for promoting cultural diversity. Adichie’s characters in her novel Purple Hibiscus represents the canon of Nigeria and the society's stance against cultural exploitation through domestic violence and oppression.

Family Violence in Purple Hibiscus

Kambili has to deal with the roughness of being a teenager and on top of that, the wrath of her father. Kambili’s father, Eugene makes schedules for her and her brother, Jaja. This schedule contains time for studying, prayer, meals, family interaction and sleep. There is no room in this schedule for being a kid, like playing outside. Kambili does not know what it is like to be a normal kid, she really does not even know how to be her own person. She is so used to trying to please her father, she watches what she says at all times so she can never disrespect him in any way, or sometimes she does not even speak. “I meant to say I am sorry that Papa broke your figurines, but the words that came out were, ‘I’m sorry your figurines broke, Mama.” (Adichie 10) , the figurines symbolize the obedience and silence Kambili has to live with. Kambili is too afraid to speak the truth. She turns into a mute to avoid more problems and outburst with Papa. She is so petrified to disobey him that she hides her feelings and what she wants to say because she knows he will become violent. When Papa becomes violent he would speak to her with sympathy, but at the same time inflict pain on her. He felt as if he is doing it for her own good. He thinks by inflicting pain it will make her realize her sins and what she has done wrong:

“Kambili, you are precious.” His voice quavered now, like someone speaking at a funeral, choked with emotion. “You should strive for perfection. You should not see sin and walk right into it.” He lowered the kettle into the tub, tilted it toward my feet. He poured the hot water on my feet, slowly, as if he were conducting an experiment and wanted to see what would happen. He was crying now, tears streaming down his face… I watched the water leave the kettle, flowing almost in slow motion in an arc to my feet. The pain of contact was so pure, so scalding, I felt nothing for a second. And then I screamed. “That is what you do to yourself when you walk into sin. You burn your feet,” he said. (Adichie 194)

Kambili felt nothing at a point, she is so used to the violence that is a sense of nothingness and numbness. Kambili describes the pain she is in as “pure”. These are two completely different feelings, it's as if she is confused on what to feel about it. The burning feet can be related to her burning tongue in the beginning of the novel. She describes her tongue was ‘suffering’ from the burning but would think that the more it hurts, the more he loves them. Papa sees his family as a reflection of himself, he does not want to be embarrassed by their sins, he wants them to be perfect.

Purple Hibiscus and Coming of Age

In the beginning of Purple Hibiscus Jaja is controlled by Papa and would obey his commands. Throughout the story, Jaja starts to become more confident. He finally starts to identify as his own person and stand up for himself against Papa. At one point Jaja refuses to go up for communion at mass, well knowing there will be consequences. He simply does not like the taste so he made his own decision, which meant defying Papa. Jaja is starting to lose faith in his religion because he does not see why bad things keep happening, “Of course God does. Look at what He did to his faithful servant Job, even to His own Son. But have you ever wondered why? Why did He have to murder his own son so we would be saved? Why didn’t he just go ahead and save us?” (Adichie 289). Papa’s abuse towards him is becoming too much to handle and understand. Papa, and his faith, is literally and figuratively dead to Jaja at this point.

Kambili’s mother tries her best to take care of Jaja and Kambili but would never speak up to Papa’s violence, even though she knows he is wrong for his actions. Papa is the reason for Mama’s multiple miscarriages because he would beat her. She refuses to leave him because he is financially stable, and a known man in their town. She appreciates the fact that he stays with her because most Nigerian men have multiple wives and families. Mamma puts up with Papa for a long time until he put Kambili in the hospital. With the help of Aunty Ifeoma, Mama realizes that Papa can no longer be in their lives, “This cannot go on’ Aunty Ifeoma said. ‘When a house is on fire, you run out before the roof collapses on your head” (Adichie 213). This made it clear to Mama that her and her family have been living in a burning house for too long and it needs to be stopped. Mamma goes as far as poisoning Papa, killing him so her family can have the freedom they always deserved.

Symbolism as Character Development

Adiche uses symbolism through nature to show the development of the growth of the characters. On many occasions in the novel the red and purple hibiscus play an important role in the eyes of Kambili and Jaja. The red hibiscus are seen in the beginning of the novel, when things were falling apart. The color red symbolizes the anger the characters have because they have yet to find freedom from their abusive father/ husband. The color red haunts Kambili. When she had to clean her mother's blood after Papa beat her, all she saw was red.Kambili would see the words in her book as “the black typed blurred, the letters swimming into one another, and then changed to a bright red, the. Red of fresh blood” (Adichie 35). The purple hibiscus flowers was described as “rare fragrant with the undertones is freedom” (Adichie 16), which portrays their uniqueness. Kambili and Jaja felt their first sense of freedom at their aunt's house, which is where the purple hibiscus was first seen. The purple hibiscus is foreseen at the end of the novel once Papa is gone and the Achike finally has the freedom they have been waiting for.

We will take Jaja to Nsukka first, and then we’ll go to America to visit Aunty Ifeoma,’ I said. ‘We’ll plant new orange trees in Abba when we come back, and Jaja will plant purple hibiscus, too, and I’ll plant ixora so we can suck the juices of the flowers.’ I am laughing. I reach out and place my arm around Mama’s shoulder and she leans toward me and smiles… Above, clouds like dyed cotton wool hang low, so low I feel I can reach out and squeeze the moisture from them. The new rains will come down soon. (Adichie 306-307)

Kambili is finally at peace with her life, her laughter expresses how she is happy and will be okay, as well as Mama. The planting of orange trees is a symbol of a new life and new beginnings for the Achike family. Jaja planting the purple hibiscus resembles the freedom he will have, and he will grow, just like the flower. Kambili brings up the ixora plant because it was a happy memory she can always keep with, reminding her of the simple joys in life. The “new rains” represents the hope of a new beginning, as the environment plays a major symbolic role in this novel. Finally having this freedom opens up a whole new world for this family, all of the suffering is over and they can finally not live in fear for the first time.

Adichie used a narrative approach to explore the theme of domestic violence and oppression. She used the viewpoint of Kambili to portray the conditions in Nigeria during the Post Colonial time period. There has been numerous accounts of people with a lack of development growth due to aggressive behavior at home, most particularly in Nigeria. This aggressive behavior usually results in various problems, such as poor social skills and depression. For example, Kambilli has adjusted to just not talking, she is too used to being afraid to speak up. Victims are made to feel guilty for allowing the abuse to go on within the family, which usually leads to an even more violent act. As seen in Purple Hibiscus Mama could not stand to see her children be hurt anymore, it was unbearable. This guilt ate Mama up to the point where she poisoned Papa to escape the abuse. Jaja than felt guilty for letting Mama get to this point and that he was not able to protect her. This guilt prompted Jaja to take the fall for Papa’s death, giving him years in prison.

Conclusion

In Adichie’s Purple Hibiscus, domestic violence and oppression is portrayed through the Achike family. Domestic violence and oppression is largely due to cultural influences for the Nigerian society. The violence a father figure inflicts on his family is seen as normal in many Nigerian homes, which is projected through this novel. Adichie examplifies what torture families go through and what kind of impact it has on an individual. This is why it should be read by popular audiences as part of their secondary / post-secondary education. Studying literature endures one to appreciate words and their power. By studying literature people can learn about things that would not even be a thought in their head, such as different cultures. Learning about different cultures through literature opens up the world to a person. By reading, the reader starts to empathize with the characters, able to feel their pain through their hardships. In Purple Hibiscus the reader learns about the Nigerain culture. They can start off by knowing nothing about it but then learn there is real problems in that culture that still go on today. Adichie gives a real life scenario, which can help a Nigerian family, or at the least spread awareness. Therefore this all displays why the canon of Nigeria should be included in the academic canon, not only for education but for promoting cultural diversity.

Works Cited

1. Adichie, Chimamanda Ngozi. Purple Hibiscus. Anchor Books, 2003.

2. Krug, Etienne G., World Health Organization. World report on violence and health. World Health Organization, 2002.

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3. United Nations General Assembly. 'Declaration on the Elimination of Violence against Women.' United Nations, 1993.