Literatures in English Unit One

Tuesday 12 April 2022

The Purple Hibiscus Chapter 2 part 6

Notes

 This chapter shows the contrast between Papa’s family and Aunty Ifeoma’s family.

 This novel can be looked at from a feminist’s perspective or POV or approach.

 Religious hegemony and patriarchy

 Lovesick

 Love is not something that should hurt. Eugene’s (kambili’s father) love hurts as he abuses his

family.

 The colour of the room is not white yet somewhat of an off-white colour. Every year the room is

painted in a darker colour( darker cream colour). The cream colour becomes a representation of

Eugene.

 All the cream colours in the room blended and made the room seem wider. It’s as if once you

enter the room you can’t escape, it can also be seen as how Eugene traps the women ( Kambili

and her mother Beatrice).

 The red hibiscus represents violence, bloodshed, abuse; it becomes a representation of Eugene’s

patriarchy

 The purple hibiscus becomes a representation of peace, of hope. They can only get this peace

and hope when they journey ( Jaja, Kambili, Beatrice).

 They travel to Aunty Ifeoma in order to feel this hope and peace. In order for the purple hibiscus

to thrive they need to get rid of the red hibiscus.

 Eugene is represented by the purple hibiscus

  We notice the coming of age as it mostly pertains to Kambili.

 It is at Aunty Ifeoma’s house that Kambili feels peace; it provides the voicless, bounded, trapped

Themes

Love: Familial and Romantic

Death

Representation of Women

Appearance and Reality

Search for Identity

Social and Political

You can para-phrase in the exam.

Religion only temporary helps. It provides a heart in a heartless world.

The opium of the masses