CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

In this study we shall examine the stereotypical views of women in our African society,
based on the author’s interest in literature and gender studies. Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s
Purple Hibiscus and Half of a Yellow Sun have been duly selected the purpose of this study.
These novels have been chosen for this analysis, as they center on prevalent issues of gender
subjugation/ emancipation. The author seeks to validate whether or not women have found
their place in society.
Adichie’s emphases lay in the depiction of her characters as Igbo folks, since she is of Igbo
origin, and her stories are largely set in the South Eastern part of Nigeria, predominantly
Igbo. She also raises salient points, such as religion and ethnicity.
A stereotype is a mistaken identity or belief people have about something, someone or a
group that is based on a universal impression which may be false. They are generalizations or
assumptions made without substantial proof that may lead to discrimination (Wikipedia
2016). Correll J., et al (2007) posits that prejudice and stereotypes play a major role in our
perception of people, hence we view others in line with how they are viewed by society.
The views of women in our African society has varied historically, in that women have been
viewed in different lights, in different times; while the pre-colonial era presents the woman
as just a procreator (whose role is majorly that of birthing and nurturing her children, where
she does not play a significant role in the sacrifices, rites and rituals carried out within the
society she finds herself), the colonial era presents us with women who do not question their
identities and roles, being mindful of not upturning the views and ideologies of the society
about her. The underlying issues of gender roles emanate from our society, which is
patriarchal in nature. The concept of gender is viewed as a social idea, rather than a
biological one, i.e. The roles of feminity and masculinity are often times determined by the
society one finds herself (Omofuma, O.J. 2017). Adichie has apportioned to herself the role
of examining the dominant problems of our African society in her writings. She and other
similar writers have come all out to kick against societal ills and domestic violence prevalent
in African homes. As we know, literature cannot be separated from society, as it takes
account of events and occurrences happening in society. Madubike et al observes that:
 “A writer does have a professional responsibility of making his work relevant
and intelligible to his society and its concerns. He may do so by treating the
burning issues of the day or he may do so by treating themes common to his
community’s fundamental and long range interest” (258)
We are therefore handed the task of examining the concept of gender roles and stereotypes
by examining Adichie’s writings.

1.1 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

This work explores prevalent issues of gender roles and subjugation. It analyzes stereotyping
tendencies towards the African woman that has remained an object of controversy in the
circle of literary critics. It examines the position of women in the works of Adichie. Purple
Hibiscus and Half of a Yellow Sun presents to us, a woman’s identity as expected in a
patriarchal society from the outset; however there is a strong shift of power and control,
when true identity is discovered. Each of the sexes have their gender roles and expectations;
for instance strength and control for a man, weakness and submission for a woman.
Subsequently there is a turn of the tide as the woman proves to be strong, willful hence
reversing the roles of both sexes.

In the course of this study, we assert that gender roles are insignificant, as anyone can fill any
role irrespective of recurrent opinions regarding their sex.

1.2 OBJECTIVES AND SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

This research is aimed at examining the stereotypical views of women in our African society,
focusing on the characters, as portrayed by the writer. It seeks to enable the reader
understand Adichie’s position as a feminist writer, geared towards knocking off patriarchal
walls, and relegating gender roles to a very minimal form.

Finally, it aims at giving the audience a better understanding of both novels through the
analysis of the female characters
 1.3 SCOPE AND LIMITATION OF THE STUDY

This work shall be largely analyzing the major female characters in Adichie’s Purple
Hibiscus and Half of a yellow Sun, presenting a comparative analysis of both novels based on
the writer’s portrayal of character and characterization.

1.4 THEORITICAL FRAMEWORK

This study is based on the womanist theory as expounded by Aleksandra and Izgarjan
(2017). Womanism is a dimension of the feminist socialist theory that caters for other
societal issues (apart from gender) such as class, race, politics, ethnic relationships, religious
intolerance, colonialism, neo-colonialism etc. in their consciousness. The concept founded by
Alice Walker in her first novel, The Third Life of grange Copeland and her collection of
Essays; we are the Ones we Have Been Waiting for presents womanhood and motherhood as
elements of culture which helps us understand the world we live in. Ogunyemi in Mboya
(2007:18) says that:

“Black women are disadvantaged in several ways: as blacks, they with their men are victims
of white patriarchal culture… they are also victimized on racial, sexual and class grounds by
white women”.

The womanist concept explores prevalent social issues, with gender as its foremost issue.
Hence, this study seeks to examine Adichie’s opinion of gender problems and how they
relate to national issues in Africa using the womanism theory.

1.5 AUTHOR’S PROFILE

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie was born on the 15th of September 1977 in Enugu, Nigeria. She is
the 5th of six children born to Igbo parents, James Nwoye and Grace Ifeoma Adichie. While the
family’s ancestral home is in Anambra State, Chimamanda grew up in Nsukka, in the house
occupied by the late Chinua Achebe, a Nigerian Writer. Chimamanda’s father now retired,
worked at the University of Nigeria Nsukka as the first professor of Statistics, later becoming the
deputy Vice Chancellor of the University, and her mother as the first female registrar at the same
institution.

She completed her secondary education at the University’s secondary school and received
several accolades academically. She went on to study medicine and pharmacy at the University
for a Year and a half. During this period, she edited the compass, a magazine run by the
university’s catholic medical students. At age 19, she left for the United States where she gained
a scholarship to study communication at Drexel University in Philadelphia for two years,
subsequently going on to pursue a degree in communication and political science at eastern
Connecticut State University. While at Connecticut University, she stayed with her sister Ijeoma,
who runs a medical practice close to the University.

Chimamanda graduated summa cum laude from eastern in 2001 and then completed a masters’
degree in creative writing at John Hopkins University Baltimore. It was during her senior year at
Eastern that she stated working on her first novel, purple Hibiscus which was released in October
2003. The book has received wide critical acclaim; it was shortlisted for orange fiction prize
(2004) and was awarded common wealth writers’ prize for best first book (2005).

Her second novel, half of a Yellow Sun (also the title of one of her short stories) is set before and
during the Biafra war. It was published in august 2006 in the United Kingdom and in September
2006 in the United States. Like Purple Hibiscus, it has also been released in Nigeria.

Chimamanda became a Hoddler fellow at Princeton University during the 2005- 2006 academic
year and earned an M.A. in African Studies from Yale University in 2008. Her collection of
short stories, The Thing around Your Neck was published in 2009.

Chimamanda is now married and divides her time between Nigeria, where she teaches writing
workshops and the United States. She was awarded a 2011- 2012 fellowship by the Radcliffe
Institution for Advanced Study, Harvard University. Among her numerous awards includes:
ABBC short story competition 2002 joint winner for, “That Harmattan morning”, henry prize
2003, for “The American Embassy”, David T. Hong International Short Story prize 2002/2003
(PEN Centre Award), for “Half of a Yellow Sun”, Hurston/ Wright legacy Award 2004 (best
debut fiction category), for Purple Hibiscus, Ansfield Wolf Book Award 2007 (fiction category
for Half of a yellow Sun; joint winner with Martha Collins, for Blue Front) Pen Beyond Margin
Award 2007, for Half of a Yellow Sun( joint winner with Ernest Hardy for his essay collection,
“blood beasts”, vol. 1, Haryethe Mulhen for her poetry anthology, “Recyclopedia” and Aberto
Rios for his poetry collection “theatre of night”), Orange board band prize for fiction 2007 for
Half of a Yellow Sun, 2008 award (young person of the year category), and other nominations for
several awards.