Purple Hibiscus Symbolism

1109 Words3 Pages

A unique plant, Purple Hibiscus, symbolizes difference, independence, and freedom. Kambili, a shy, young girl, tells the story of how she finds freedom from her father in the novel, Purple Hibiscus. Her brother, Jaja, is an individual who helps Kambili from the beginning of the story until the end. Jaja and Kambili’s father, Papa, is abusive towards his wife, Mama, and their children. Papa brutally beats and controls his family. Jaja stands up to Papa’s abuse, something that Kambili and Mama are not able to do. Jaja is a selfless character who displays his selflessness when he takes the blame for Kambili and Mama in order to protect them. By witnessing Jaja’s actions, Kambili learns to question authority when necessary. Throughout the novel, Purple Hibiscus, by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Jaja is the character whose interactions most influence Kambili as she …show more content…

Kambili grows from a quiet, reliant young girl into a true self- reliant individual. It is important to stand up against abuse. Although it is a harsh punishment, Papas death is somewhat warranted considering the torment he makes Kambili, Jaja and Mama put up with. Purple Hibiscus shows the true difficulty that victims of abuse face. Kambili is silenced, and she is rarely allowed to make her own choices. She faces difficulty making acquaintances in the outside world for much of her life because she is so shy and unable to talk to people. Kambili is forced to seek satisfaction from Papa her entire life or she is beaten. Speaking to the authority on Papa would be the best thing to do in an abusive situation, but Mama handles it her own way, through murder. When Papa is out of their life, Mama, Jaja, and Kambili are truly free and able to live an enjoyable life. Abuse is an awful topic, and abusers should be dealt harsh consequences. When their consequences are faced, hope is given to their victims, hope for a bright future to overcome a dark

Open Document