How are the characters in Purple Hibiscus shown to be impacted by colonialism and
oppression?
In this essay, I will be exploring how certain characters face oppression due to the impacts of
colonialism, and how this differs from characters who have gained empowerment from
colonialism. I will be comparing how the characters from Kambili’s immediate family,
specifically Kambili and Papa, are affected while using Aunty Ifeoma as a contrasting example
to showcase empowerment. This essay will cover the themes of colonialism, oppression and
empowerment; and its roles in how it affects the behaviour of the characters aforementioned in
this novel.
Papa is shown to idolise white people while disregarding traditionalism and Nigerian culture, as
he sees them as inferior. This is shown when Papa is shown to "pray for our protection and
forces, for Nigeria and the godless men ruling it". The use of the word "godless" shows that Papa
believes that followers of traditional Nigerian culture are heathens, and therefore "godless.". This
is a microcosm of how colonialism enables many people from indigenous cultures to reject their
own religion to fit into the "white ideal", and try to secure a better future for themselves. Adichie
uses collective pronouns in this quote to show that Papa is deeply concerned with the fact that
some Nigerians continue to be followers of traditionalism, and that he deems it unacceptable.
This is due to the fact that Papa and many Nigerians have been subtly affected by colonialism
their entire lives and gradually start to internalise the belief that anything traditional is "bad" and
that white, colonised ideals are "good" and something to strive for. This is evident in how Papa
was sent to missionary school, where he was brainwashed into believing that Christianity and
western culture are superior, whereas followers of traditional Nigerian culture are heathens that
commit acts of sin. This moment in the novel demonstrates how victims of oppression can start
to internalise the beliefs that their oppressors are feeding them; an example is when the
colonisers indoctrinate Papa and many Nigerians alike to only accept Western ideologies while
rejecting traditionalism in an attempt to gradually strip away the victim’s identity. The reader
then gets a greater understanding of how individuals can be affected by colonialism, for instance,
many peoples attitudes change over time as the effects of colonialism and propaganda start to
take a toll on the person, making them more susceptible to prejudice towards traditional cultures.
, As a result of how Papa pushes his beliefs about religion onto Kambili, Kambili has developed a
tremendous fear of committing sin. This is suggested when Kambili is shown to "talk in
whispers," suggesting a fear of speaking up, for she may say something sinful. This is evidence
of how Kambili is extremely repressed, as she subconsciously represses her thoughts in order to
please Papa, not out of admiration but more out of a deep fear of Papa. The use of the word
"whisper" shows that Kambili talks very quietly, and the use of the present tense in this quotation
shows that Kambili regularly talks in whispers. This is due to the fact that she regularly has to
walk on eggshells around Papa to avoid triggering his anger and facing punishment. This is due
to the fact that Papa is shown as abusive, mainly due to his childhood trauma and how he was
influenced by colonisers for most of his childhood, leading him to believe that any beliefs that do
not align with Western ideals are sinful. This is evidence of how Kambili is being oppressed by
Papa and has developed a very repressed persona as a protection mechanism against Papa, as do
many people affected by oppression. This demonstrates how oppression can have a great
influence on people by affecting how they speak, act, and do other things not only around their
oppressors but also around peers, as they feel as though the oppressor is watching their every
move, which leads the person to subconsciously change the way they act due to a deeply
ingrained fear of the oppressor. The reader then gets a better understanding of how oppression
can be deeply ingrained in people and how it is very difficult to escape these effects, especially if
the person has been indoctrinated from a young age for an extended period of time.
oppression?
In this essay, I will be exploring how certain characters face oppression due to the impacts of
colonialism, and how this differs from characters who have gained empowerment from
colonialism. I will be comparing how the characters from Kambili’s immediate family,
specifically Kambili and Papa, are affected while using Aunty Ifeoma as a contrasting example
to showcase empowerment. This essay will cover the themes of colonialism, oppression and
empowerment; and its roles in how it affects the behaviour of the characters aforementioned in
this novel.
Papa is shown to idolise white people while disregarding traditionalism and Nigerian culture, as
he sees them as inferior. This is shown when Papa is shown to "pray for our protection and
forces, for Nigeria and the godless men ruling it". The use of the word "godless" shows that Papa
believes that followers of traditional Nigerian culture are heathens, and therefore "godless.". This
is a microcosm of how colonialism enables many people from indigenous cultures to reject their
own religion to fit into the "white ideal", and try to secure a better future for themselves. Adichie
uses collective pronouns in this quote to show that Papa is deeply concerned with the fact that
some Nigerians continue to be followers of traditionalism, and that he deems it unacceptable.
This is due to the fact that Papa and many Nigerians have been subtly affected by colonialism
their entire lives and gradually start to internalise the belief that anything traditional is "bad" and
that white, colonised ideals are "good" and something to strive for. This is evident in how Papa
was sent to missionary school, where he was brainwashed into believing that Christianity and
western culture are superior, whereas followers of traditional Nigerian culture are heathens that
commit acts of sin. This moment in the novel demonstrates how victims of oppression can start
to internalise the beliefs that their oppressors are feeding them; an example is when the
colonisers indoctrinate Papa and many Nigerians alike to only accept Western ideologies while
rejecting traditionalism in an attempt to gradually strip away the victim’s identity. The reader
then gets a greater understanding of how individuals can be affected by colonialism, for instance,
many peoples attitudes change over time as the effects of colonialism and propaganda start to
take a toll on the person, making them more susceptible to prejudice towards traditional cultures.
, As a result of how Papa pushes his beliefs about religion onto Kambili, Kambili has developed a
tremendous fear of committing sin. This is suggested when Kambili is shown to "talk in
whispers," suggesting a fear of speaking up, for she may say something sinful. This is evidence
of how Kambili is extremely repressed, as she subconsciously represses her thoughts in order to
please Papa, not out of admiration but more out of a deep fear of Papa. The use of the word
"whisper" shows that Kambili talks very quietly, and the use of the present tense in this quotation
shows that Kambili regularly talks in whispers. This is due to the fact that she regularly has to
walk on eggshells around Papa to avoid triggering his anger and facing punishment. This is due
to the fact that Papa is shown as abusive, mainly due to his childhood trauma and how he was
influenced by colonisers for most of his childhood, leading him to believe that any beliefs that do
not align with Western ideals are sinful. This is evidence of how Kambili is being oppressed by
Papa and has developed a very repressed persona as a protection mechanism against Papa, as do
many people affected by oppression. This demonstrates how oppression can have a great
influence on people by affecting how they speak, act, and do other things not only around their
oppressors but also around peers, as they feel as though the oppressor is watching their every
move, which leads the person to subconsciously change the way they act due to a deeply
ingrained fear of the oppressor. The reader then gets a better understanding of how oppression
can be deeply ingrained in people and how it is very difficult to escape these effects, especially if
the person has been indoctrinated from a young age for an extended period of time.
