Purple Hibiscus Silence Analysis

Throughout the novel, Purple Hibiscus by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, silence plays a large role in the character’s development and the progression of the story. In the beginning, the silence of Kambili, Mama, and Jaja reflect their fear that they have for Papa. Later on, when Kambili and Jaja visit Aunty Ifeoma, their silence is contrasted largely with their cousin’s family’s laughs and songs. Finally, silence is seen on the political landscape, as both Ade Coker dies because he tried to speak out. Overall, silence plays an important role in the plot and setting of Purple Hibiscus. Most importantly, the silence throughout the beginning of the novel comes from Kambili, Jaja, and Mama as they fear Papa. Due to this fear, they refuse to say anything against him, and they always do what he says. For example, in chapter one, Papa asks Jaja if he would be willing to have a drink with them in Igbo - which was a bad sign for Kambili and Jaja. Later on, Jaja says, “‘Mba, there are no words in my mouth.’ ‘What?’ There was a shadow clouding Papa’s eyes, a shadow that had been in Jaja’s eyes. Fear. It had left Jaja’s eyes and entered Papa’s. ‘I have nothing to say,’ Jaja said.” This quote helps to show how Jaja truly feared his father and, when Papa asked Jaja to join them for dinner, he was fearful to say no. Additionally, since Papa spoke Igbo, but he usually refused to do so in public, it shows how Papa often controlled the tone of things. In addition to physically not speaking,