Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s coming-of-age novel Purple Hibiscus narrates the story of a girl Kambili who deals with religious hypocrisy within her family. —- In Purple Hibiscus Adichie conveys her views of the Nigerian Civil War to the reader by using the setting, specific events reciprocated in history, and contrasting characters within the novel. Purple Hibiscus is set in post-colonial Nigeria, where the Adichie grew up, in a time of government and economic struggle, after the Nigerian Civil War, also known as the Nigerian-Baifran War. “Military men would always overthrow one another, because they could, because they were all power drunk” (24) illustrates the internal governmental struggle in Nigeria during this book and result of the
…show more content…
Papa describes the coups during the civil war as “bloody” (24), as a website titled “blackpast.org” describes the civil was as “a three-year, bloody conflict” (Hurst). In between 1967-1970 the Nigerian-Baifran broke out between the Baifran state, that was ethnically Igbo, and the Nigerian state (Hurst). During and after the war, the country was in a state of depression due to economic and governmental downfall. In Purple Hibiscus,‘Ifeoma mentioned that gas cylinders were scarce in Nsukka’” (107). Aunty Ifeoma also serves dinner with chicken that was “———“(), this demonstrates the scarcity of food during this period. Comparably, a petroleum and supply blockade was implemented on the Baifran state by the northern region of Nigeria (—). America acts as a relief to Aunty Ifeoma’s family as they move there due to the lack of pay at the university. Likewise, America conducted airlifts of supplies in aid to the Baifran State during the …show more content…
Papa depicts the “bad guys” of the civil war, the Nigerian country, while Aunty Ifeoma depicts the “good guys”, the Baifran state. Papa is a negative influence on on his family’s life in the novel. He is abusive, strict, and dominant. He and his family are well off due to his ownership of a newspaper and factories and Kambili says he “deserve[s] praise” (20). “He [Papa] hardly ever spoke Igbo” (13) argues that he rejects the Igbo culture, relating him to the Nigerian country that rejected the idea of an independent Igbo state. Aunty Ifeoma, on the other hand, embraces Christianity but in syncretism with her native culture. She represents the Baifran state because of her lack of resources and her acceptance of Igbo culture. Kambili describes Aunty Ifeoma as “fearless” (76) and “tall, exuberant, fearless, loud, larger than life” (95). Her characteristics give her a positive impacts on both her children and Kambili and Jaja. Due to her relation of the Baifran state, these are also the characteristics Adichie associates with the effort for an independent Baifran state and the Igbo
Papa describes the coups during the civil war as “bloody” (24), as a website titled “blackpast.org” describes the civil was as “a three-year, bloody conflict” (Hurst). In between 1967-1970 the Nigerian-Baifran broke out between the Baifran state, that was ethnically Igbo, and the Nigerian state (Hurst). During and after the war, the country was in a state of depression due to economic and governmental downfall. In Purple Hibiscus,‘Ifeoma mentioned that gas cylinders were scarce in Nsukka’” (107). Aunty Ifeoma also serves dinner with chicken that was “———“(), this demonstrates the scarcity of food during this period. Comparably, a petroleum and supply blockade was implemented on the Baifran state by the northern region of Nigeria (—). America acts as a relief to Aunty Ifeoma’s family as they move there due to the lack of pay at the university. Likewise, America conducted airlifts of supplies in aid to the Baifran State during the …show more content…
Papa depicts the “bad guys” of the civil war, the Nigerian country, while Aunty Ifeoma depicts the “good guys”, the Baifran state. Papa is a negative influence on on his family’s life in the novel. He is abusive, strict, and dominant. He and his family are well off due to his ownership of a newspaper and factories and Kambili says he “deserve[s] praise” (20). “He [Papa] hardly ever spoke Igbo” (13) argues that he rejects the Igbo culture, relating him to the Nigerian country that rejected the idea of an independent Igbo state. Aunty Ifeoma, on the other hand, embraces Christianity but in syncretism with her native culture. She represents the Baifran state because of her lack of resources and her acceptance of Igbo culture. Kambili describes Aunty Ifeoma as “fearless” (76) and “tall, exuberant, fearless, loud, larger than life” (95). Her characteristics give her a positive impacts on both her children and Kambili and Jaja. Due to her relation of the Baifran state, these are also the characteristics Adichie associates with the effort for an independent Baifran state and the Igbo