36th Annual Student Research Conference
The Overprotective Brother: The Influence of Igbo Culture and Family Roles in Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s Purple Hibiscus
Alyssa M. Shellabarger
Dr. Hena Ahmad, Faculty Mentor
Traditional Igbo society places particular importance on the oldest son, preparing him to become the next leader of his family. In Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s novel Purple Hibiscus, the role of the oldest son is filled by Jaja, older brother of the novel’s narrator Kambili. Throughout the novel, Jaja is pushed into the role of protective older brother, and, after his father’s death, the man of the house. However, through Jaja’s connections to the novel’s titular object, the purple hibiscus, a symbol of personal freedom, it becomes clear these are not roles Jaja would have chosen for himself. This essay will examine how contemporary influences of Igbo culture, the roles dictated by Jaja’s family, and Jaja’s own sense of guilt at not fulfilling these roles adequately prevent him from achieving the freedom he seeks.
Keywords: Igbo Culture, Family Roles, Oldest Sons, Character Analysis, Nigerian Literature
Topic(s):English
Presentation Type: Oral Presentation
Session: 206-3
Location: SUB 3202
Time: 10:45