Vladimir Nabokov

Vladimir Nabokov's comments on the merit of truth in his speech reminded me of Tim O'Brien's comments in The Things They Carried. Both Nabokov and O'Brien believe that truth isn't necessary to a story and it isn't expected to be. However, Nabokov argues that literature is deceptive as a result of its mirroring of nature. He argues that literature is inherently deceptive and literature has simply adopted its misleading condition. O'Brien, on the other hand, argues that truth is subjective in storytelling and relies on the perspective of the speaker to discern what truly happened and what didn't.

I find the notion that truth doesn't exist in storytelling to be "true" for the most part. It is impossible for any person, regardless of their perspective, to obtain complete knowledge of the situation. It is impossible for a person to relay the completely accurate information of an event without some type of bias or inaccuracy, caused by lack of omniscience. The fact that every story that I have ever heard is not completely true is somewhat disturbing, but not the least bit surprising.

W.E.B. Dubois Letter

Dubois' letter and advice to his daughter in England immediately reminded me of something Okwonko would say to one of his kids in "Things Fall Apart". I can imagine Okwonko seeing the white colonialists enforcing their rule on Umuofia and him reminding his kids that black skin is just as pretty as white skin and that they are just as valuable, if not more, than their white counterparts. Okwonko would remind his kids that this land has belonged to them for centuries and that they should fight for it with all their heart.

Despite this letter being written in the early 20th century, it's message still holds true today. This summer, myself and thousands of other American kids will go to college and experience new people and new places. On the drive to school, I am sure nearly every parent will remind their kids how lucky they are to have this opportunity and how they should take full advantage of it, similar to W.E.B. Dubois' letter. Every parent wishes to see their kid thrive in a new school and overcome the peculiarity of college. Although most kids are not in as quite as foreign of a place as Dubois' daughter, a parent's counsel will always be comforting to kids in a new environment.

Kambili's Awkwardness in Purple Hibiscus

Purple Hibiscus is written from a first-person perspective with Kambili, a Nigerian teenage girl, as the narrator. One of Kambili's most defining traits is her awkwardness and general discomfort in articulating her words. Although the source of this trait is unclear, I would surmise that it is a result of her father's abuse and strict intervention in her childhood. Take, for example, the fact that Kambili must always run straight out to her car after school or risk being beaten by her father. I would assume this has been happening since she was young, thus leading me to believe that she has never had time to socialize at school. Her father's strict schedule for her probably also prevents her from being social, as she is probably forbidden from doing anything besides studying on the weekend. 

Her inability to socialize with others has had a noticeable impact on her social skills. This impact is highlighted when she visits her aunt's house and is in constant contact with her outspoken cousin, Amaka. This juxtaposition is highly noticeable throughout her time at her aunt's house, as she struggles to make conversation and express herself to anyone there. The only one who is able to break Kambili out of her shell is the local priest, Father Amadi. He takes Kambili to play soccer one day and it is evident that they have some sort of chemistry. Although it seems like innocent banter at first, Kambili develops a crush on the priest. While watching him play soccer, she comments, "I did not look down at his tank top on my lap as I inched my hand ever so slowly toward it. My eyes were on the football field, on Father Amadi's running legs..." (305). It is clear that Father Amadi is the only character, perhaps besides Jaja, who Kambili feels she can express herself to in Purple Hibiscus. I am anxious to see if some sort of "forbidden love" develops between the two as the novel progresses. 

Religion in "Purple Hibiscus" vs. "Things Fall Apart"

One of the most notables themes in Purple Hibiscus is Eugene's strong belief in Christianity and hatred for the pagan traditional Ibo religion. This is in stark contrast to the views of Okwonko in Things Fall Apart, who is a strong believer in tradition and is a firm believer in the Ibo religion. This juxtaposition between two fairly similar Nigerian men shows just how far-reaching and popular Christianity has become in Nigeria since the missionaries arrived in the 19th century. Although we see its popularity begin to increase within Umuofia in Things Fall Apart, I don't think that even in Okwonko's wildest nightmares would a sane Nigerian man hate the Ibo religion as vehemently as Eugene does in Purple Hibiscus. Eugene hates the Ibo religion so much that he won't let his kids see their grandfather for more than 15 minutes on Christmas because he "honors his ancestors before eating". Eugene is sure to remind Kamibli and Jaja not to eat any of the food at their grandpa's house as that would be embracing the "pagan customs". From a reader's standpoint, it is evident that a majority of the younger generation in Nigeria have fully embraced Christianity, while those who follow the Ibo religion are slowly beginning to die out. The difference in religion between Things Fall Apart and Purple Hibiscus truly highlights the changes in tradition that have taken place in Nigeria as a result of colonialism.