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.
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