This book is one of those book i found hard to put down. I had so much expectations— it really did live up to it ooo, because at the time i felt like everyone i knew had read the book except me, my classmates, later my friend, then my church member. The name really tickled my fancy and i would often wonder what it was really about and not just hearsay.
This book Purple hibiscus was a very chilling book for me to read. It delve into the topic of religion. The story is about two teenagers Kambili and Jaja, Children of a devout Catholic Father, who always follows religious codes to the latter. He is an authoritarian and is very controlling. Although he appears as very generous and is seen as a model Christian. His need for order brings a very ugly side of him, he uses religion as a tool of oppression in his household.
Although Eugene is protrayed as someone who is wealthy, he clearly lackes what money can't buy in his home. His controlling nature cages eveyone in his house even his wife. This causes Kambili to lose her voice, Kambili is protrayed as a very quiet girl and tries so hard to please her father. She's so obedient that even her thoughts are hesitant, her silence i feel symbolizes her loss of individuality and sense of self.
The story is set at the time when Nigeria was still trying to shake off colonial influence and gain a footing. This was infused to show how foreign methods can affect individuality. Eugene heavily influenced by western culture being Baptized and confirmed into Catholicism, holds strong opposing views on tradition and culture, even rejects to acknowledge his father who was a traditionalist, whereas Aunty ifeoma, his sister has a balanced approach and embrases both her faith and culture and shows that both can exist without completely eradicating the other.
Just like how the siblings (Eugene and Ifeoma) share different views on culture and religion things are different in Aunty Ifeoma's house, when Kambili and Jaja visits Nnsukka, they are greeted with a different kind of life. Aunty Ifeoma's house is filled with laughter, happiness and freedom, a place of growth, a place to learn, a place to even make mistakes. It was at Aunty Ifeoma's house that Kambili finds her voice and her self, Aunty Ifeoma's house became a safe haven a hid away from Papa's torment. Although it not nearly as comfortable as it is at home, it is different, A New found Freedom that they never new existed, Freedom that they didn't know what to do with.
I liked how Ngozi Chimamanda uses the story to paint what religion could do if it was misinterpreted or distorted, i just think about how religion or Christianity is supposed to bring about peace and comfort knowing that there's a supreme being that is concerned about you 24/7, can be turned around to cause pain and torment. It really opened my eyes about the fact that religion is not merely for just practicing codes and following doctrines, it boils down to how you treat the people around you and your personal relationship with God. Spiritually over doctrines and codes.
Freedom in the achike's house comes with a hefty prize and the newfound found freedom was short lived. This book really had me in retrospect about a lot of things especially about personal growth, breaking out of oppression and control and how foreign systems can affects one's individuality.
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