Adichie’s novel, Purple Hibiscus, supports the idea that having freedom and rebellion brings good change overall. This theme is demonstrated by the development of the protagonist, Kambili, with her increase in speaking and laughing that is caused by the sense of freedom she gains during her to trip to visit Aunty Ifeoma in Nsukka.
Throughout the novel, the amount of speaking Kambili changes as she spends more time in Nsukka which demonstrates that the freedom she has there brings good change. Towards the beginning of the story, when she is spending her first day in Nsukka, Kambili notes that, “I did not say anything until lunch was over… mostly my cousins did the talking” (120). At this point, Kambili has lived her whole life being oppressed …show more content…
While under Papa’s control she rarely, if ever, laughed. Her laughter was so uncommon that she remarks that, “ I was not sure what my laughter sounded like” (88). Kambili not being able to recognize the sound of her own laughter proves that she rarely laughed before her trip to Nsukka. After, during her third visit, Kambili states that, “I laughed. I laughed because the allamanda flowers were so yellow. I laughed imaging how bitter their white juices would taste if Father Amadi had really sucked them” (269). The anaphora created by the repetition of “I laughed” emphasizes the joy Kambili is feeling. This girl, who is filled with happiness and laughing at everything, is a sharp contrast to the old Kambili who did not even know her own laugh. When Kambili starts laughing makes it evident that she is happier when she is in Nsukka than any other time. Rebellion and freedom is associated with Aunty Ifeoma and Nsukka, so it is also associated with the change in Kambili.
These changes to Kambili all happened during her trip to Nsukka, so they were most likely caused by the new found sense of freedom she gained there. The developments, speaking more and laughing more are positive changes; a person’s life is better and happier if they speak and laugh. Because it was brought on by freedom and rebellion, Kambili’s character development supports the theme that freedom and rebellion
Throughout the novel, the amount of speaking Kambili changes as she spends more time in Nsukka which demonstrates that the freedom she has there brings good change. Towards the beginning of the story, when she is spending her first day in Nsukka, Kambili notes that, “I did not say anything until lunch was over… mostly my cousins did the talking” (120). At this point, Kambili has lived her whole life being oppressed …show more content…
While under Papa’s control she rarely, if ever, laughed. Her laughter was so uncommon that she remarks that, “ I was not sure what my laughter sounded like” (88). Kambili not being able to recognize the sound of her own laughter proves that she rarely laughed before her trip to Nsukka. After, during her third visit, Kambili states that, “I laughed. I laughed because the allamanda flowers were so yellow. I laughed imaging how bitter their white juices would taste if Father Amadi had really sucked them” (269). The anaphora created by the repetition of “I laughed” emphasizes the joy Kambili is feeling. This girl, who is filled with happiness and laughing at everything, is a sharp contrast to the old Kambili who did not even know her own laugh. When Kambili starts laughing makes it evident that she is happier when she is in Nsukka than any other time. Rebellion and freedom is associated with Aunty Ifeoma and Nsukka, so it is also associated with the change in Kambili.
These changes to Kambili all happened during her trip to Nsukka, so they were most likely caused by the new found sense of freedom she gained there. The developments, speaking more and laughing more are positive changes; a person’s life is better and happier if they speak and laugh. Because it was brought on by freedom and rebellion, Kambili’s character development supports the theme that freedom and rebellion