Nabokov and Adichie

Applying Nabokov's thoughts on what a writer needs to be to Chimamanda Adichie's novel Purple Hibiscus yields some interesting results. As the article states Nabokov believes that a writer needs to be a storyteller, a teacher, and an enchanter. Nabokov describes the storytelling aspect of a writer as the one that provides mindless entertainment and emotional participation. In this aspect, Adichie excels by including vivid descriptions of Papa Eugene's vicious punishments through the mind of his 16 year old daughter and victim, Kambili. She also includes happy emotions with the time spent at Aunty Ifeoma's house, the one place Jaja an Kambili can truly be themselves. Adichie also proves adept as the teacher, the provider of facts and knowledge. Her description of the complex relationship christianity has with the indigenous population and traditions provides a realistic look at christianity in Nigeria and the effect it has on family and non-family bonds. Christianity distanced Papa Eugene from his family, but made him very active in supporting many of his fellow churchgoers financially. The third aspect of a writer and the most important, according to Nabokov, is that of the enchanter. The enchanter is the portion that we really break down in class, the part of the book we tear apart searching for meaning. This is Adichie's first novel and as such, is not as strong in this aspect as the other two. However, she remains an extraordinary talent. She skillfully links christianity with the dark side of Papa Eugene by making him a good man at heart. He is, after all, the owner of The Standard, the only newspaper willing to publish the truth about the corrupt government. He also wants the best for his children, but his religiousness prevents him from truly being supportive of his children. Adichie turns the novel into a unique criticism of Catholicism by being a powerful enchantress.