In Purple Hibiscus, Adichie initially portrays silence in a positive light by highlighting its ability to force individuals to turn inward, develop a better sense of inner self, a greater empathy for others, and a heightened awareness of the world around them. Kambili is forced to mature due to her experience with silence imposed by her father. Kambili’s ability to relate to others, understand other’s suffering, and keen perception of her surroundings all stem from her ability to channel her energy inward. Through Kambili’s tendency to shy away from engaging in conversation, Adichie highlights the value in quiet solitude and reflection. Kambili’s frequent retreat into solitude fosters her empathy, spirituality, and humanity towards both herself …show more content…
Adichie creates a metaphor between Kambili and “an enterprising snail” she sees “crawling out of the open basket” one weekend at the market (145). Representative of herself, the “snail crawling out, being thrown back in, and then crawling out again” is like Kambili’s slow progress toward liberation and expression. Small and insignificant compared to the rest of the items sold at the market, the snail receives cruel treatment that parallels Kambili’s treatment by her father at home. Unlike the snail, however, Adichie shows how while the snail may be trapped in the basket for a long time, Kambili doesn’t have to be trapped under her father’s command indefinitely. Nurtured by the love from her aunt and cousins, Kambili feels akin to the snail but is gradually progressing and crawling toward freedom. Additionally, Adichie ironically depicts Papa as a man who critiques the current political leader for being elected through fraud through his newspaper, the Standard, while also being a dictator in his own home. “I meant to say I am sorry that Papa broke your figurines, but the words that came out were, ‘I’m sorry your figurines broke, Mama’” (10). Kambili’s father’s voice has grown at the expense of his daughter’s voice with the result being that on the few occasions that Kambili is able to stutter out a few sentences, she can only say what is acceptable as determined by her father. Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie concludes the novel with the death of Kambili’s father and his voice, a voice that loomed over society and Kambili’s family, frightening them into a constant state of terror. Ironically, Papa is not blown up as in the case of Ade Coker nor is he taken and beaten away by higher