Purple Hibiscus Journey

Various aspects of journeys were faced in Chimamanda Adichie's Purple Hibiscus, Anh Do's The Happiest Refugee, James Dashner's The Death Cure, and Lasse Hallström's What's Eating Gilbert Grape?. The obstacles and experiences faced throughout the character’s journeys proved to change one’s viewpoint of their predicament evoke different reaction through a loved one’s death, and to show one’s true bravery.

Journeys often change one's perception and priorities in their situation. In Adichie's Purple Hibiscus, Kambili's disturbing belief that love must hurt is shown in her opinion on love sips; "I knew that when the tea burned my tongue it burned Papa's love into me." Metaphoric language provides imagery of the pain of her father's 'love'. This

In What’s Eating Gilbert Grape, Bonnie’s children burn down the house to save her dignity, it effectively 'sets them free'. The fire may symbolize Gilbert’s new life, and how quickly journeys can change. A reflection of Arnie's birthday decorations was shown in the burning window – an example of one of the things the family left behind. The scene was explained through family's actions, and diegetic noises such as the crackling of fire. Gilbert felt unable to leave the setting of the scene for the majority of the movie, but his ties to Endora burn with the house. Gilbert's grief was expressed in his anger and destruction in the basement, conveying the different ways people deal with obstacles in their journeys. Bonnie's death and the burning of the house was ultimately what were needed in order for Gilbert to discover what he truly wanted, and to progress in other experiences. Similarly, in James Dashner’s The Death Cure, Thomas shooting Newt because he was a infected with a virus of the brain, proved to impose as a significant obstacle in Thomas’ other journeys; "’KILL ME! … Please Tommy, Please.’ With his heart falling into a black abyss, Thomas pulled the trigger." Vividly descriptive and metaphoric language conveys their extreme emotions of desperation and guilt. By bringing himself to put Newt out of his misery, Thomas overcomes a major emotional journey, with the shock of having just killed his best friend

Anh’s family defiantly risk their lives to save a baby; “We must save the child! We will fight to the death to SAVE THE CHILD!” Repetition and capitalisation emphasize their goal in a desperate and bold tone of which they are entirely willing to die for, as shown through high modality. Inclusive language encourages the entire family, with their attitude of having nothing to lose spurring them fight for an innocent child. The personal sacrifice promotes a new found bravery and confidence; “The most dangerous animal is the one cornered and fearful.” Throughout the attacks, Anh’s family were submissive and afraid of defying the pirate’s wishes, displayed through the actions and tones of characters. The obstacle of the threat of the child’s death causes the family to commence an inner journey that helps their new bravery arise in the midst of fear, as showed through descriptive language that evokes imagery in the readers mind. Similarly, in Purple Hibiscus, Kambili and her family’s courage of opposing Eugene’s authority begins with Jaja skipping communion; “’Then I will die.’ Fear had darkened Jaja’s eyes to the colour of coal tar, but he looked Papa in the face now. ‘Then I will die, Papa.’” Description and characterization show Jaja’s emotional change from fear to defiance, also shown in his change of tone in repeating his words. Repetion also emphasizes Jaja’s rebellion against Eugene’s controlling nature. This small action is what