Happiness In Aunty Ifeoma's Purple Hibiscus

In Purple Hibiscus, Aunty Ifeoma illustrates the true meaning of happiness: She teaches the readers that happiness doesn't come from wealth, neither from status. It comes from the little things. The small things and where you can feel free, where you can love and be loved. This type of lifestyle opened the eyes of Jaja and Kambili. Aunty Ifeoma's free and outspoken household changed the lives of these children. One of the reasons Aunty is the illustrator of happiness is due to her parenting. She enjoys loud, and silly. The noise of the children gives the family a layer of protection and security that makes them not stress over the fact that they’re living in poverty. “Arguments rose quickly and fell just as quickly. Morning and night prayers

were always peppered with songs, Igbo songs that usually called for hand clapping. Food had little meat, each person’s piece the width of two fingers pressed closed together and the length of half a finger.” (Ardichie 40) In this quote the meat symbolises wealth and the singing and clapping symbolise true happiness. As much meat that Kambili and Jaja had at home, it didn’t make up for the fact that family dinners with Mama and Papa were full of silence, grief and shame.