Purple Hibiscus Literary Analysis
Character Foils in Purple Hibiscus
An Analyzation on the Effects of Contrasting Personalities between Kambili and Amaka
Some authors use character foils to emphasize extreme differences and personalities. For example the good, kindhearted Cinderella being contrasted against the evil and wicked stepmother in the popular fairy tale. In the Novel Purple Hibiscus, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie uses character foils; Amaka and Kambili, who are two cousins that come from completely different backgrounds and have different personalities as well. Though Kambili comes from a very wealthy and well off family, she lacks the ability to express herself and have personal freedom. Amaka comes from a poorer family but she is able to have her own opinions and has the freedom to do the things she really wants to. Adichie’s use of Amaka and Kambili as foils in story show that the image or reputation of a person doesn’t always show how the person is on the inside.
Being seen as wealthy often equates to the freedom to do and to get what you want, but even though Kambili is from a wealthy family she often feels oppressed and is unable to do or say things she wants to. In the book, Amaka is showing Kambili around the house and when they get to the stereo, she assumes Kambili has a better sound system and listens to music all the time, “I’m sure this is nothing close to the sound system in your room in Enugu,” Amaka said. She pointed at the small cassette player at the foot of the dresser. I wanted to tell her that I did not have any kind of music system in my room back home, but I was sure she would not be pleased to hear that, just as she would not be pleased to hear it if I did have one” (Adichie 118). Amaka already has many ideas perceived about Kambili just from her wealthy statues but she really doesn’t understand Kambili's life at all. Kambili isn’t allowed to listen to music at all, her father keeps her from the outside world and suppresses her
An Analyzation on the Effects of Contrasting Personalities between Kambili and Amaka
Some authors use character foils to emphasize extreme differences and personalities. For example the good, kindhearted Cinderella being contrasted against the evil and wicked stepmother in the popular fairy tale. In the Novel Purple Hibiscus, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie uses character foils; Amaka and Kambili, who are two cousins that come from completely different backgrounds and have different personalities as well. Though Kambili comes from a very wealthy and well off family, she lacks the ability to express herself and have personal freedom. Amaka comes from a poorer family but she is able to have her own opinions and has the freedom to do the things she really wants to. Adichie’s use of Amaka and Kambili as foils in story show that the image or reputation of a person doesn’t always show how the person is on the inside.
Being seen as wealthy often equates to the freedom to do and to get what you want, but even though Kambili is from a wealthy family she often feels oppressed and is unable to do or say things she wants to. In the book, Amaka is showing Kambili around the house and when they get to the stereo, she assumes Kambili has a better sound system and listens to music all the time, “I’m sure this is nothing close to the sound system in your room in Enugu,” Amaka said. She pointed at the small cassette player at the foot of the dresser. I wanted to tell her that I did not have any kind of music system in my room back home, but I was sure she would not be pleased to hear that, just as she would not be pleased to hear it if I did have one” (Adichie 118). Amaka already has many ideas perceived about Kambili just from her wealthy statues but she really doesn’t understand Kambili's life at all. Kambili isn’t allowed to listen to music at all, her father keeps her from the outside world and suppresses her