Purple Hibiscus Essay

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Recommended: Discuss the theme of change in literature

Within the novel Purple Hibiscus by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Adichie portrays the development of the protagonists Jaja and Kambili as well as numerous other secondary characters that influence these individuals. One is demonstrated how Kambili, Jaja, and Eugene, the father of Kambili and Jaja, are exposed to diverse environments throughout the novel. These individuals all respond to certain changes brought upon their lives differently contingent to whether they accept it in a positive manner or whether they identify it as an obstacle that is conflicting with their initial beliefs. Though, initially the protagonists Jaja and Kambili struggle to become open-minded to new aspects and truly express themselves, their surroundings cause them to …show more content…

Eugene, on the other hand, conflicts with himself as he resists the changes his environment is attempting to place on him, as he considers what he individually values to be the most essential. Nonetheless, the characters throughout the novel reveal how they react when confronted with new aspects and how they apply that to their individual development. The novel is essential for portraying how one ultimately develops from the changes within their environment. The protagonist Kambili initially possesses many situations where she could have interacted with her environment and the individuals who surrounded her. One is able to identify this in the scene where Kambili and Ezinne have a conversation. For example, “Maybe you should try and talk to her. Maybe after school you should stop running off like that and walk with us to the gate. Why do you always run away? I just like running…wondered if I would count that as lie…” (Adichie 51). Though, Kambili was aware that she was deceitful to Ezinne, her father, Eugene, instills Kambili fear within her, as she desires in avoiding physical pain brought upon by him if she were to delay after school. Although, during Kambili’s visit to Nsukka, within her Aunt Ifeoma’s home, the individuals who surround her enable her to

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