Response to PURPLE HIBISCUS (through p 88)

So far, Purple Hibiscus has been really, really sad and depressing and I hope it there is some happiness in the book. I mean, by today's standards, Eugene (Papa) would have been in jail years ago. But this is 1980's post-colonial Nigeria, so he's not. This is a terrible analogy, but he's like those kids who act one way around just kids and another way when there are adults around. But in this case, Papa is full-out abusing his entire family in private and giving money to the poor in public. His title is literally Omelora, The One Who Does for the Community (see p 56). But because he is so generous, faithful, and rich, the community pays no attention, that we know of, to what abuse shows on his family.

Purple Hibiscus reminds me of The Color Purple, and no it's not because of the name, though I do wonder if the color has any significant meaning in this context. Anyway, in both stories, from the beginning, the main female protagonist is abused by her father (and later her husband in The Color Purple). Both characters are soft-spoken at the beginning, and in The Color Purple by the end, Celie (the main character) is open, confident, and free. Hopefully, Kambili will turn out the same way.