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Examples Of Fear In Purple Hibiscus

Decent Essays

Imagine living in dramatic fear, someone who loves you, puts you through abuse, depression, and demolishing your self-esteem. How does a person grow from such a traumatic experience and become brave? Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie was born on September 15, 1977 in Enugu, Nigeria. During her senior year at Eastern, she started working on her first novel, Purple Hibiscus, which was released in October 2003. Adichie demonstrates bravery and growth in humanity. Kambili and her family’s lives are followed throughout Purple Hibiscus. Kambili and her family live through fear of Papa, they are silent and are afraid to stand up for themselves. Fear suppresses our individuality and confidence- thus; it controls humanity and hinders us from bravery and growth.
Fear can have complete control, accustoming one to feel complacent with their status quo. Kambili and her family are frightened their whole life- they’re afraid of change as well their father’s strict ideals that stops them from letting go and growing as an individual. “This cannot go on, nwunye m,’ Aunty Ifeoma said. ‘When a house is on fire, you run out before the roof collapses on your head.” (213). Theoretically speaking, Aunty uses a metaphor that if a house is on fire, we must run out before the roof crumbles. She is relating this to the Achike household, proving that the pain that the family is enduring must end. Aunty Ifeoma was ashamed of Mama for going back to Eugene, even though he was the cause of her miscarriage. In the

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