29th Annual Student Research Conference
Public vs. Private: Perceptions of the Patriarch in a Post-Colonial Nigeria in Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie's Purple Hibiscus
Lucy M. Gavlick
Dr. Hena Ahmad, Faculty Mentor
Purple Hibiscus centers around a 15-year-old girl, Kambili, and her brother Jaja who try to break free from their fanatically religious father, Papa. This paper will look at the stark differences between the way Papa is seen by the public eye and how he acts in his home. The community admires Papa as a prominent figure who generously donates to his parish, while he creates an environment of fear for the children to grow up in at home in accordance with their Catholic faith. It is only when Kambili can get away from this environment that she grows as a person. Using a feminist lens, I will analyze the role of Papa in shaping his children's lives and the importance of considering how patriarchs act not only in public but in private too.
Keywords: purple hibiscus, chimamanda ngozi adichie
Topic(s):English
Presentation Type: Oral Paper
Session: -2
Location: MG 1000
Time: 2:45