Ishan Mandloi
Ms. Chalifoux
English 2
30 March 2023
How Jaja Changes throughout the story
The book Purple Hibiscus, written by Chinwe Adichie is a complex book with a deeper meaning behind everything. It is a book dealing with the problems of oppression, identity, and the idea of colonialism and religion. It starts off from the perspective of Kambili, she has a brother and parents and lives a very “expensive lifestyle” given the circumstances. The family was extremely devoted and strict about religion. Jaja who is the brother of Kambili changes dramatically to a more outgoing, rebellious, and distant person who starts to question his own religion.
Throughout the book Purple Hibiscus, Jaja changes dramatically, going from a shy, secondary character to a more outgoing main character. In the beginning, Jaja is quiet, as he doesn’t want to upset his overbearing father, and his oppressive schedule.
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The children from the beginning are taught very straight ideas since Papa is so pious which is why they are taught not to eat or drink anything at Papa Knukwus's house “How can Our Lady intercede on behalf of a heathen, Aunty?”. This quote explains how Kambili and Jaja are taught to criminalize any other religion and think of their grandpa as a sinner. This leads to the kids slowly understanding that other religions are not sins. Later on, when Papa Knukwu is forced to stay with Aunty Ifeoma, Jaja makes the decision to not tell Eugene that Kambili and Jaja are living with him “ “ showing how Jaja is starting to realize that traditional religion was nowhere near a sin. This leads Jaja into becoming openly rebellious against his father “Jaja skipped communion” taking a stand against Papa to fight for what he believes in enhancing his freedom. Jaja slowly grows more independent and loses faith in Christianity showing how his time at Aunty Ifeoma’s has taught him about expressing his own freedoms and