Thursday, June 11, 2009
Is freedom giving birth to another Tyrant?
In the novel "Purple Hibiscus", the author has shown the various shifts in the lives of Jaja and Kambili. The transformation that takes place when they go to Aunty Ifeoma's house and when they come back, they had realized that there was a world outside their house which was full of joy and happiness. The author also gives us an idea that they achieve freedom after Mama had killed Papa. But the question that I want to ask is that wasn't Jaja transforming into his own father? There were a couple of incidents where he was beginning to show signs of dominance and dictatorship. The fact that when his father was ill , he tells him that kambili and him were going to their Aunt's house after they had received the news of their Aunt applying for the visa at the American Embassy. The fact that his father was ill which was a sign of weakness and Jaja was portraying the same characteristics as his father did when he was healthy. Papa used to dominate the weak, Jaja and Kambili, in the sense that they never raised their voice. In fact, their mother never questioned his authority inspite of all the miscarriages that she had. Also the fact that when Kambili and Mama go to visit Jaja, he tells Mama to tighten her scarf and she does it very quickly. When Kambili had said the same thing to Mama, she tells Kambili that it was tight enough. So, I'm wondering was it because Jaja had taken the blame for her mother or was it because he was slowly transforming to take his father's place as the dictator?
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This is true that Jaja was in a way portraying some of his father's traits however he has learned this from Papa and he was doing as a form of dominance he was protecting himself and his sister. He wanted to go where they would be happy and safe. I did not get the same reading as you did about Jaja transforming into his father becasue he clearly states that he should have protected his sister and mother from Papa therefore why would he want to be like someone he dispies so much to the point that he does not mourn papas death (murder)
ReplyDeleteThere is a saying,'a fruit does not fall far from its tree. Which simply means in this sense that if Eugene their papa could neglect his own father untill his death. Why then should it surprise him or any other person for that matter, Jaja could tell him that they were going to auntie Ifeoma's even though their father is ill.
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