Purple Hibiscus Domestic Violence

Love’s connotation to fire is a common constant in both literature and in daily spoken word. Society dubbs passionate and intense love “fiery,” while particularly dedicated couples are considered twin flames. However, love can “burn” if one is not careful. In Purple Hibiscus, the main character Kambili’s trauma caused by her father’s physical abuse limits her initial perception of healthy love. Adichie uses the contrasting parenting styles of Eugene and Ifeoma, along with the symbol of fire, to indicate how domestic violence can negatively impact a child’s development.

Adichie’s metaphor of Eugene’s violence as fire warps Kambili’s perception of healthy love, often leaving her helpless in his physically abusive household. Kambili feels most

As her mother informs Ifeoma of their abusive living situation, Ifeoma proclaims that “when a house is on fire, [one should] run out before the roof collapses” (Adichie 213). In this instance, fire’s true meaning is physical abuse. Ifeoma teaches Kambili to reject her father’s love, as even if she believes there are good intentions, it nevertheless burns and hurts her. Ifeoma’s parenting style empowers Kambili to find the strength to escape abuse, and prioritize self-preservation. Because Ifeoma serves as Kambili’s first example of what healthy love looks like, she inevitably feels abandoned and frightened when Ifeoma must leave for America. In her sleep, Kambili “[tosses] around so often that [she] woke [her cousin Amaka] up…[Kambili] let her hold and soothe [her] like a little child” (Adichie 282). Adichie once again portrays Kambili as younger than reality, but in this case, she feels the physical intimacy instead of the beatings present when she lives with her father. This indicates how Ifeoma’s household becomes a refuge and safe space for Kambili, especially considering that this moment contrasts how initially she feared opening up to Amaka. She feels so comfortable in this environment that she allows Amaka to hold her, when the only physical interactions she had before

While she stays with Ifeoma, Kambili realizes that she doesn’t remember her hope to “never open [her] eyes again, that fire once dwelled in [her body]” (Adichie 233). This implies a level of suicidal ideation present in Kambili’s psyche when she is actively being abused, but since fades with time away from Eugene. Her father’s abuse was to such an extreme extent that she wished for death, which is strikingly profound considering her age and sheltered lifestyle. Following the metaphor that fire in Purple Hibiscus represents physical abuse, Kambili may have continued this cycle of abuse involuntarily if she continued living with Eugene. She seemingly does not want to become an abuser but notes that she may not have a choice, as it “dwells” inside her like a birthright. However, Ifeoma’s kindness and acceptance has extinguished the “fire” in Kambili’s body. Thus, Adichie makes the statement that freedom can both improve the quality of life and prevent future domestic