The book ‘Purple Hibiscus’ written by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie can be acclaimed as a strong piece of literature depicting the miseries of a prominent Nigerian man’s family’s life. Within the book, the audience will find a coherent and cohesive representation of all the hardships those people had to deal with along with their efforts to change their situation and their accomplishments in this area. In the following paper, this book will be addressed in terms of its valuable information which can be learnt from the way Eugene Achike, a rich and well-respected in the local community man, treated his family. Generally, the book can be evaluated as a fine piece on family values and despotism providing exotic details, thought-provoking ideas and an interesting layout.
First of all, speaking about the message of the book, it should be stated that it is related to the family hardships that the members of despotic man’s family can experience. The book keeps on focusing on the theme of silence prevailing among all Eugene Achike’s family members. It depicts the mother who is so silent that her speech can be compared to ‘the way a bird eats, in small amounts’; Kambili, the main protagonist of the book, and Jaja, her brother (Adichie 20). Kambili, a fifteen-year-old Nigerian girl shares her pain with the audience gradually revealing how terrible it is to be a daughter of a man who is known as an embodiment of all the excellent qualities among the people in the community, but in reality is a monster in his own family. The girl describes her father in the following way: ‘Papa liked order. He draws up meticulous schedules for his children, dictating how long they were able to study, sleep, pray or spend with the family’(Adichie 24). These words are only a modest description of the real despotism prevailing in the family; those who tried to object the father’s will (for example, Jaja) had to suffer physically. What is the most troublesome in the situation that this family is experiencing is their silence. They see no ways to speak about their anguish. Still, people around this family have no idea about all this pain as they know Eugene Achike as a skilled political, social and religious leader with an excellent reputation. All in all, despite the book’s exotic tincture, it speaks about a common problem spread all around the world including the western societies. Thus, it appears very involving for it’s the most diversified audience.
With regards to the author’s style, it should be said that it is rather interesting and easy for comprehension and perception. The strength of her style is in her ability to make every reader interested and involved into the process of reading. The book is developed in a way which helps to feel oneself a part of the events related in the book, to “listen” to the dialogues of its characters and to feel the real atmosphere existing during those days. Through the pages of the book, the audience is involved into the atmosphere of despotism existing in the family and is moved to feel for its characters, and be distressed for them. This excellent book is developed in a single narrative voice (Kambili’s one) which is so convenient for its understanding.
In conclusion, the book ‘Purple Hibiscus’ by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie can be evaluated as a fine piece on despotism in the family providing exotic details, thought-provoking ideas and an interesting layout.
Works Cited
Adichie, Chimamanda Ngozi. Purple Hibiscus, The United States: Algonquin Books, 2003. Print.