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  • Essay / The Dynamics Between Two Contrast Settings in Purple Hibiscus

    The novel Purple Hibiscus by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie describes the life of a teenage girl, Kambili, growing up in Nigeria. In the novel, Adichie uses two main contexts to effectively depict the themes of freedom, silence, and repression. The two settings used in the novel are Kambili's hometown of Enugu and another small town, Nsukka, where Kambili's aunt and cousins ​​live. The contrasts between the settings are striking. In Enugu, Kambili, her brother Jaja and her mother are all oppressed by Papa. There, the teenagers don't know what freedom is and everything they do is determined by Dad. However, in Nsukka, Kambili and her brother finally discover what freedom really is, and because of this, they find themselves: Say no to plagiarism. Get Custom Essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”?Get Original EssayContrast Between Settings of “Purple Hibiscus”Enugu City is a large cosmopolitan city devoted to government affairs and commerce. Kambili's father, Eugene, is an important figure in Nigeria and dominates his household using harsh punishments and rigid guidelines. The house is filled with an oppressive silence that symbolizes the family's inability to communicate with each other or express themselves. Even during dinner, the family sits and either eats in silence or speaks briefly, in short, intense bursts. They constantly worry about their father's reaction. Additionally, Kambili and Jaja are governed by routines. Eugene set them schedules for each day and even dictated to them what their free time should be spent on. It also plans study time. Jaja and Kambili are expected to come first in their classes every term, and often they do so "because we were afraid of what would happen if we didn't." Kambili's home in Enugu is a place of oppressive rules and fear, and Kambili grew up without really speaking or thinking for herself. Even at school, Kambili is afraid to speak. She is afraid to talk to girls and because of that, girls think she is snobbish. One girl told him, "You know, she started calling you a snob because you don't talk to anyone." » When Kambili's aunt arrives, she manages to convince Eugene to let Kambili and Jaja come to her house. When they arrive, they are both a little shy and don't know what to expect. Moreover, the “clammy coldness” of the Achike house in Enugu contrasts sharply with the warm and lively atmosphere of Aunt Ifeoma’s apartment in Nsukka. They tell their aunt that their father had given them schedules to follow during the day. Then Aunt Ifeoma said to them: “I will keep them for you until you leave. If you don't tell Eugene, eh, then how will he know you didn't stick to the schedule? It's their first taste of freedom. Also during their visit, they discover purple hibiscus, which they had never seen before. This turns out to be a huge symbol in the book. At home, they had only seen red hibiscus, which would symbolize violence and anger. These purple hibiscus would serve as a symbol of self-expression and a symbol of Kambili and Jaja's growth and their journey to break free from their stifling lifestyle: "Jaja's challenge now seemed to me like aunt's experimental purple hibiscus Ifeoma: rare, scented with the nuances of freedom... A freedom to be, to do. Their time in Nsukka gives them the opportunity to develop their character and learn what freedom really is. The second setting: Aunt's house in Nsukka The atmosphere in Aunt Ifeoma's house is very different from that in Enugu. In Nsukka, Ifeoma.