Interface of the Environment and Characters in Adichie’s Purple Hibiscus

Abstract

The focus of this paper exposed the engagement of the literary persons in Adichie’s Purple Hibiscus and its environment. How the characters interfaced with their environment to develop the plot is examined. The environment refers to the natural world as a whole or a particular geographical area, especially as affected by human activity. It can also refer to all circumstances, people, events, living or non-living things, physical or chemical processes, and natural forces. In Purple Hibiscus, the environment operationally refers to the cities and villages, flower gardens and insects, football field, the church, cultural and religious practices, the characters that people (inhabit) the setting of the novel. All these form the setting and influence the actions and behaviour of the characters. Eco-criticism as a literary theory best explains the relationship between literature and the environment. It interpretes the actions of the characters based on their surroundings. This literary exercise used a branch of eco-criticism that studies the relationship between literature and the physical environment to analyze Adichie’s Purple Hibiscus.