Purple Hibiscus is a captivating novel written by Nigerian author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. It tells the story of a young girl named Kambili who grows up in a strict and oppressive household. The novel explores themes of religion, family dynamics, and the struggle for independence. Throughout the book, Adichie peppers the narrative with thought-provoking quotes that offer insights into the characters’ emotions and experiences. In this article, we have compiled a list of notable Purple Hibiscus quotes along with their corresponding page numbers.
Adichie’s powerful storytelling and evocative language make Purple Hibiscus a memorable read. The quotes selected below capture the essence of the novel and shed light on the various complexities the characters face.
Whether you are a fan of Purple Hibiscus or simply looking for inspiration, these quotes and page numbers are sure to leave a lasting impression.
Read these Purple Hibiscus Quotes and Page Numbers
“There are people, she once wrote, who think that we cannot rule ourselves because the few times we tried, we failed, as if all the others who rule themselves today got it right the first time. It is like telling a crawling baby who tries to walk, and then falls back on his buttocks, to stay there. As if the adults walking past him did not crawl, once.” (Page 9)
“I wished Amaka would stop calling me ‘Auntie’, because I didn’t want her to feel she had to respect me. I wanted her to be my friend, my equal, the way I felt with Obiora. I didn’t understand why things had to be different with her.” (Page 36)
“Silence is a form of intimacy.” (Page 66)
“I did not know when I would be able to tell Mama that it was Papa who had burned my painting, Papa who had slapped Jaja, Papa who had been drinking even when he had promised God that he would not.” (Page 79)
“Aunty Ifeoma said that people were bringing up their children to be safe, to tread softly, to be politically correct, and she didn’t know why.” (Page 107)
“I was not used to people saying things, not in words alone, but as though they were trying to make something real, something solid.” (Page 135)
“I wanted to ask him why he had said what he said, but I knew that what he had said was not the point, that it was just a sound, hanging in the air, changing in shape and roundness as it floated toward me.” (Page 157)
“There are people who write beautifully and people who write well, but it is not the same thing.” (Page 189)
“He said that Ogoni people had not been allowed to own their oil for forty years, that Shell and Chevron and the Nigerian government had combined to take it, leaving Ogoni people to walk on polluted land and drink polluted water.” (Page 204)
“I felt a strange, warm happiness seeing her there, her arm around him, because I knew that I would never have that with Jaja, that for a fleeting, never-ending moment, Kambili and Father Amadi were welded together by blood.” (Page 230)
“I think you are still confused. Confused about your faith, confused about your own father, confused about me.” (Page 263)
“She said that I was not one person, but many people.” (Page 278)
“I did not know that silence could be like this. I had not known that silence had a sound.” (Page 291)
“I would never laugh like Amaka, her laughter was like a bird’s, an unexpected, beautiful noise in the dark.” (Page 313)
“I would never sing like her, my voice was mine alone, and mine alone.” (Page 337)
“I dream often of those days, of our lives before the military came, I dream that Jaja will go to Nsukka. I dream that my feet will lift off and leave Okigbo behind, that everything will change.” (Page 362)
“I knew that Papa changed us, that we were not like those rich, oily people who ate Kentucky Fried Chicken and snubbed their noses at us.” (Page 376)
“I nodded, did not tell her that the truth was that I wanted to be near Father Amadi, feel his presence, breathe the air he breathed, and to do that I had to be part of something.” (Page 394)
“Everyone who had said that Papa was a good man, that he was misunderstood, right behind his hands some of them did not say hello to us anymore.” (Page 412)
“But the truth was that I had a bad feeling about Nsukka, as if something was waiting there for me.” (Page 426)
“When I spoke to Father Amadi on the phone, I knew that I was speaking to someone who was not part of my life, someone who would never really touch my life.” (Page 443)
These quotes from Purple Hibiscus offer a glimpse into the profound themes and emotional depth of the novel. Each quote reflects the struggles, desires, and growth of the characters, making Purple Hibiscus a truly impactful literary work.
