Purple Hibiscus Quotes

People have become accustomed to not only meeting expectations set by their parents, but also exceeding them. Oftentimes this expectations can turn into goals, in order to please parents or guardians. Unfortunately, expectations can sometimes become unattainable. This is demonstrated in Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s Purple Hibiscus, where the main character, Kambili, is forced to meet impossible standards of perfection. In Purple Hibiscus, Adichie shows how victims of abuse are forced into perfection without taking their well-being into account. However, when they are exposed to new ideas they gain freedom and a way to grow into their own identities.

Parents often force their children into harsh molds, usually not out of concern for their futures,

Papa states, “‘Why do you think I work so hard to give you and Jaja the best? You have to do something with these privileges. Because God has given you much, he expects much from you. He expects perfection’” (Adichie 47). This quote illustrates how there is no room for error in Jaja’s and Kambili’s lives. Making mistakes and learning from them is an integral part of the progression to adulthood, and not doing so is detrimental to Jaja and Kambili’s development and growing sense of identity. Papa shows little concern for the personal growth of his children, choosing to believe that their education is sufficient, and further neglecting his responsibility as a father. He believes that because he has “work[ed] so hard” to provide his children with resources that he never had growing up, they are capable of raising themselves because of his generosity. Another example of Papa’s unrealistic expectations is when Kambili states, “He hardly spoke Igbo, and although Jaja and I spoke it with Mama at home, he did not like us to speak it in

They can gain individuality through being exposed to new ideas and being given the freedom to grow, learn, and make mistakes. One example of this is whenKambili is able to leave Papa’s house, and visit Aunty Ifeoma’s. Throughout her stay at Aunty Ifeoma’s, Kambili’s cousin Amaka has bullied her for not knowing what do or when to do it. Ifeoma encourages Kambili to utilize her voice and stand up for herself. When she says, “Kambili, have you no mouth? Talk back to her!” (Adichie 170). Ifeoma is encouraging Kambili to do the opposite of what she has been forced to do her entire life, stay silent. This contrast demonstrates the difference in parenting between Papa and Ifeoma, Papa expects Kambili to be a puppet for him to utilize, while Ifeoma wants Kambili to be able to have her own identity. Later, in the same moment, Kambili thinks, “I did not want to look at Amaka, did not want to see her scowl, did not want to prompt her to say something else to me, because I knew I could not keep up” (Adichie 170). Kambili’s hesitancy to speak up and fear of consequences that her sense of identity has been suppressed and controlled by the environment she has grown up in. In the past, Kambili has used her silence as a defense mechanism in order to protect herself from Papa’s abuse, not only because it is what he expects from her, but also because she cannot disappoint him if she does not say anything. This has