Purple Hibiscus Blog on Wealth

Through my reading of Purple Hibiscus so far, I have come to recognize that the plot of the novel somewhat demonstrates the parable of those who are poor being happy, and those who are rich being miserable. In this way, I believe that the author is commenting on the nature of material goods and how happiness results from spiritual and interpersonal connections.

In the beginning of Purple Hibiscus, the reader meets Kambili, a shy and quiet girl. It seems that Kambili suffers from a lack of identity in large part to the oppressive and overbearing nature of her father. Although she and her family may be materially rich, much is lacking both in spirituality and in their relationships with others which creates an unhappy family dynamic.

Kimball's family stands in direct contrast to the family of her Aunt Ifeoma. Although Aunt Ifeoma lives in the war torn area of Nsukka, which is in a constant state of unrest, she and her family are happy with what they have. Their happiness can partially be attributed to the freedom that they all have to speak their mind and to express themselves freely. I believe that the contrast between the two families is representative of the nature of money. Although money may be able to solve many problems in the world and allows all who hold it to have material comforts, true happiness, it seems, can only be gained through personal liberties and freedoms.

Things Fall Apart and Purple Hibiscus

After reading the dedication for Purple Hibiscus, I think that I know what is going on. This novel was written by Okonkwo's granddaughter, at least I think. If this is true, it leads me to believe that perhaps Eugene represents Nwoye, but that almost seems out of character given that I remember Nwoye from Things Fall Apart as being calm and kind, which goes against my initial impressions of Eugene. This knowledge leads me to conclude that Eugene is an alter ego of Nwoye. If this deduction is somehow true, then it definitely reinforces the notion, "like father, like son." When Nwoye left Okonkwo and his family, he did it in one breath to escape the oppression that he faced as a result of his father. However, Eugene seems to be just as bad as Okonkwo, although in a more civilized society. He still beats his wife and acts with a chip on his shoulder, due to his own father. However, unlike Okonkwo, he is not afraid to show affection to his family. I am not sure where the plot of Purple Hibiscus sits relative to that of Things Fall Apart, but I know that the two are connected somehow.

Imagery in Purple Hibiscus

After my reading of the first 103 pages in Purple Hibiscus, one of the first thoughts that struck me about the novel was how heavily the author utilizes imagery. From my reading, it seemed as if every page had at least one extended description that contained numerous appeals to the senses. Although I recognize the value of imagery in a work of literature to make the words real to the reader, I almost think that the imagery in Purple Hibiscus, is overdone, and beings to lose its meaning due to its frequency. One example of particularly can be found on page 41 when Kambili says: "I followed him. As he climbed the stairs in his red silk pajamas, his buttocks quivered and shook like akimbo, properly made akimbo, jellylike" (41). The author is clearly trying to make a connection to akimbo so the reader can better develop an image, but I find the comparison to be distasteful and irrelevant. Similarly, on page 14 Kambili makes another bizarre statement when she exclaims: "I reached for my glass and stared at the juice, watery yellow, like urine" (14). As a reader I think that I can understand what the author is trying to do with her imagery, but I personally feel that it adds nothing to the plot, rather it takes away from what is happening and makes me cringe.

Things Fall Apart ... Fast

After I had finished reading Things Fall Apart, one of the first ideas that struck me was how quickly things did fall apart. In the span of 38 pages, Okonkwo went from a man who sought to restore his former glory, to a dead man, hung at his own volition. In some ways, this rapid plot seems rushed by Achebe. On the other hand, perhaps the rapidity of the climax and the denouement is a stylistic choice by Achebe to symbolize how fast the white men conquered Africa.

An apt comparison can be made between the white Christians and a virus. A virus comes in, infects the host, and then makes more of itself, spreading rapidly. In the same way, the white men infected Africa, invading with few, who were added with more of themselves and also converted Igbo, and spreading throughout the entire continent. 

The African’s being arrested by the white men for transgressing against the white man’s laws marks the final surrender for Africa. When the white men first came, they were powerless and were required to live in peace due to a lack of numbers. However, as the numbers grew and more and more Igbo were converted, the balance of power slowly started to tip. As stated in Things Fall Apart, “[the kotma] guarded the prison, which was full of men who had offended against the white man’s law” (174). Once the indigenous people were compelled to follow the laws of the newcomer, it marked the conquering of Africa.

The Entrance of Race in Things Fall Apart

Throughout my reading of Things Fall Apart, one aspect of the novel which has been missing for me is race. Although I as a reader know that the people seen in Things Fall Apart are not white, up to this point, race seems to be a nonissue in the novel. However beginning on page 74, the separation between the races is seen when Obierika tells a story about the white men. When Obierika says, "'and these white men, they say, have no toes'" (74). This quote strikes a cord in me, especially the connection that it brings to Achebe's "Image of Africa". Just as Achebe criticized Conrad for his racist handling of the depiction of Africans in the Heart of Darkness, it seems that Achebe is also promoting stereotypical views of the races in Things Fall Apart. Although it is to a lesser degree, it still surprises me that the white man is depicted in this manner. Perhaps, the entrance of the white man in the novel at this point marks the time when things really do begin to fall apart for Okonkwo.