Originating from the Latin word "rule", a canon is a standard of judgment for ecclusiastical laws based on an accepted body of religious texts. Purple Hibiscus, a novel written by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, is a perfect example of literary canon as Adichie analyzes oppression and silence through the young character, Kambili, trying to convey her life through personal thoughts. Purple Hibiscus emphasizes the role of culture, religion and specific time period while challenging conventional wisdom. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get an original essay A constant theme that recurred throughout Adichie’s novel was the prevalence of oppression. Kambili, Papa's daughter, expresses her thoughts in her own head for most of the novel. A clear insight into Kambili's feelings towards Papa is shown when she says: "My nightmares began then, nightmares in which I saw the charred remains of Ade Coker splattered on his dining table, on her daughter's school uniform, on her baby's cereal bowl, on her plate. of eggs. In some nightmares, I was the girl and the charred remains became Dad's. This thought of Kambili shows her subconscious thoughts about Papa. After Ade Coker's death, Kambili begins to have dreams that turn into her own father's death, and these thoughts may not bother her. Throughout the novel, Papa has put such a subconscious silence on Kambili that she begins to have these unimaginable images of Papa's death, until she realizes that maybe it's not the worst thing in the world. Since the subject of a canon is culturally related, Kambili would never disrespect Papa by responding to him or expressing her opinion on a situation that has already been created. Therefore, she can somehow live her own life and express her own thoughts throughout her dreams, unconsciously. On the theme of oppression, when Dad broke Mom's beloved figurines, Kambili said, "I wanted to say I'm sorry Dad broke your figurines, but the words that came out were, 'I'm sorry your figurines broke, mom. » Physical abuse was also a factor in Kambili's silence and when this scenario happened, Kambili was too afraid to disrespect Papa and what she meant were not the words she was actually saying aloud. This quote plays an important role in a literary canon because not only does it show the importance of Kambili's silence that resides unconsciously within her, but it also shows the cultural aspect of her not disrespecting her father. A literary canon, being one of the most important books of its time, makes it clear why Purple Hibiscus is included. When Kambili talks about her brother Jaja, she says, “I looked at Jaja and wondered if the sadness in his eyes was shame. I suddenly wished, for him, that he had done the ima mmuo, the initiation into the world of spirits. I knew very little about it; women were not supposed to know anything at all, since it was the first step towards initiation into manhood. But Jaja told me one day that he had heard of boys being whipped and forced to bathe in the presence of a jeering crowd. The only time Dad spoke about the ima mmuo was to say that Christians who let their sons do this were confused, that they would end up in hell. This quote shows two major factors in this novel, religion and authority. Jaja at one point told Kambili about this religious ritual that converted boys to manhood, but hewasn't allowed to do it because Dad considered it a sin and he only wanted his children to end up in heaven. Jaja discovered these different ways of life through the humanist beliefs of his aunt and the traditionalist rituals of his grandfather. Jaja compares herself to her cousin, Obiora, who is very eloquent and mature for her age. Obiora had completed ima mmuo in his father's hometown. Jaja is never allowed to visit his grandfather for more than fifteen minutes a year because Jaja's father does not view life the same way as his own father and Jaja's grandfather. Papa's view on culture is very different from that of the rest of his family, which is why Jaja was not expected to visit Aunt Ifeoma at first. Although she is Papa's sister, they are very different religiously, and Papa would like to distance Kambili and Jaja from that side of the family, with authority. Kambili has a strong belief in God's connection with nature and many other things. She tends to try to find it in the natural world, which was taught to her by mom. Although she doesn't cling to many religious rituals aside from the Igbo chant that Papa had taught, she connects the Catholic God and Chukwu. As God created the world and prevails, Igbo Chukwu built the earth and is associated with everything in it. Kambili's home is in Enugu, but she is unsure of her future now that she has been shown a freer way of life in Nsukka with the help of her aunt. She loves Dad but doesn't want to live in his shadow for the rest of her life. She makes it clear when she says, “The rain was splashing on the veranda floor, even though the sun was shining and I had to squint to look through Aunt Ifeoma’s living room door. Mom used to tell Jaja and me that God didn't know what to send, rain or sunshine. We would sit in our rooms and watch the raindrops glistening with sunlight, waiting for God to decide. Although Kambili has love for her father, she can only envision a better, more liberating life for herself when she grows up. This shows how traditions and culture evolve over time looking at the present time. Children are overwhelmed by the rules they are expected to follow, by the forceful nature of their parents or parents. Adichie shows a deeper meaning through her words when she describes these scenes in the novel. Kambili's inner thoughts show how culture can change over time, because when things are forced on young people, it causes them to revolt and change their own ways once they grow up. Revolting against religion, Jaja shows his feelings by saying, 'Of course God does. Look at what He did to His work as a faithful servant, even to His own Son. But have you ever wondered why? Why did he have to murder his own son for us to be saved? Why didn't he just decide to save us? Jaja questions the parables of the Bible, has shown his break with faith at this point, and shows how low he is in his own life. The son's treatment by God, his father, is linked to the abuse Jaja had to endure because of Papa as well. Now that Dad is dead, Jaja claims his faith is too. It clearly illustrates that religion was forced on the children by Dad reluctantly and that now that he is gone, no one can control them to this level of severity. Keep in mind: this is just a sample. Get a personalized paper from our expert now. writers.Get a Custom EssayAfter Dad's death, the children's lives change drastically. Kambili lays out her thoughts as they come to her, saying naturally, "'We're going to.