Paradox of patriarchy in Chimamanda Adichie’s Purple Hibiscus: Making a case for paradigmatic shift

Abstract

Men have for long been entrusted with power in many cultures of the world. It is not surprising therefore that men dominate the politics and business of most nations of the world. The notion that men are superior and can therefore make better decisions as to how a social institution – such as families, religious institutions, government etcetera – should be run explains why the exercise of power is widely regarded as an exclusive preserve of men. In refuting this age-long held notion, Chimamanda Adichie in her Purple Hibiscus satirizes the (mis)use of power by patriarchal figures (men) and shows the cataclysmic effects of such abuse of power. In making a case for gender equality in all things, including the right to participate in decision making at all levels of government, Adichie juxtaposes two families: one ruled by a phallocentric figure (Papa Eugene) and another led by a feminist university lecturer (Aunty Ifeoma). The catastrophic end of Papa Eugene and the disaster he brings upon his dependants are juxtaposed with the success Aunty Ifeoma achieves, even though she had to manage her family with a meagre income as the universities were starved of fund by the military-led- government of the day – headed by a man. The paper employs Postcolonial Feminist Theory to examine the paradox of Patriarchy in Purple Hibiscus. It finds that Patriarchy has produced results that are below expectation, hence the need for a paradigm shift. Aunty Ifeoma symbolizes the new paradigm.