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Adichie’s Purple Hibiscus and the Issue of Feminism in African Novel
Ibeku Ijeoma Ann
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DOI:10.17265/2159-5836/2015.06.007
Federal University Oye-Ekiti, Ekiti State, Nigeria
Adichie’s Purple Hibiscus is a feminist work that challenges the dehumanizing tendencies of the menfolk as evident in the character of Mama (Beatrice Achike) who eventually exposed the African conception of an ideal woman who keeps dumb even in the face of humiliation, victimization, and brutality so as to be perceived as a good woman. We will make a resounding case to portray that Achike belongs to the category of liberal feminism. However, as events unfolds, she was forced by situations beyond her control to respond and go radical in order to crush anything that stands in her way to happiness. Efforts will be made to show how African women are rated based on the real and good women as represented by Ifeoma and Beatrice Achike respectively. This essay in exploring the different tenets of feminism will acknowledge that radical feminism is an off shoot of violence. We shall argue that radical feminism is a radical reaction to dehumanization, humiliation, and violence. This study seeks to address the issue of feminism and how characters subject to series of humiliation that leads to a radical approach to gain their freedom.
feminism, humiliation, subjugation, Catholic, fanatic, patriarchy, real woman, good woman, Africa
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