The Evening Standard said the ‘Purple Hibiscus’ is as revealing as Arundhati Roy’s ‘The God of Small Things’, which I did not really believe. To my amusement I found that the likeness grew stronger as the novel progressed. There are so many striking similarities that at times you wonder if Chimamanda had read Ms. Roy’s book. The sibling attachment, the abusive fathers – Papa and Pappachi, the silent suffering Mama and Mammachi, the biscuit factory and the pickle factory and even the use of the local dialect in both the books. To me the biggest similarity is the relationship between Kambili and Jaja and the asusu anya, the non verbal language of the eyes they share. This is so similar to the ties between Rahel and Estha. Well the differences are in the intensity of the plot and the narrative. While Ms. Roy’s imagery and language have layers and layers of meaning Chimamanda is strikingly simple and direct.
There are several critics that say it is the story of the sexual awakening of a 15 year old, I disagree vehemently. This is more a story of exploitation and liberation; of abuse, domestic and religious; of clash of faiths, of love and responsibility. Kambili and Jaja are the children of Eugene, a rich neo convert, and live their lives in fear and unquestioning obedience to their father. Their lives are dictated by the daily schedule handed down by Papa. Kambili lives in constant terror of her father and does everything to please him and so does her mother. Everything changes when the siblings go to Nsukka to visit their university lecturer aunt, Ifeoma and her children (here again the initial rivalry between the cousins and the final camaraderie is similar to the visit of Sophiemol in Arundhati’s book). In Nsukka they learn to be indepedent and understand the value of tradition and heritage. Here they learn to be free with their thoughts, their fears and their joys. They also learn to question the way they have been ill treated and tortured by their father. In a matter of five days Kambili metamorphises into a woman capable of knowing what love is and Jaja becomes an adult with an acute sense of his responsibility to his family. In death and loss the family is united and hopeful of better times.
Chimamanda’s characterisation is her biggest strength as shown in ‘Half of a Yellow Sun’. She says that she wanted Papa to be a character who did horrible things but was not a monster. Eugene who towers in the book is a fanatic and a sadist. He rules the lives of his family and is a benefactor to all those who live by his tenets and laws. And like all power hungry and egotistical characters, he feels undermined when someone stands upto him be it Papa-Nnukwu, Aunt Ifeoma and finally Jaja. Ifeoma is a brilliant creation, strong, unafraid, practical and very loving. Mama is pusillanimous and irritatingly subservient but ultimately surprises everyone. Kambili is a cloistered teenager who does not trust her feelings and her needs. Jaja is a very strong character – sensitive, rebellious and sacrificing. The relationship between Father Amada and Kambili is a let down – almost like a chick flick.
I would recommend that readers ideally should try this book before reading her other celebrated novel. ’Purple Hibiscus’ wilts under the brilliance of ’Half of a Yellow Sun’.
Beautifully written dave, you have captured the book wonderfully. I disagree with you on one account though. I thought Purple Hibiscus was a tad better than Half a Yellow Sun simply because it was less intense and therefore more realistic. Still comparison between two fantastic pieces of work is unfair.
Thanks Cos. Intensity is not a bad thing, you know
i know i know