Purple Hibiscus by Chimamanda Ngozi

In Purple Hibiscus by Chimamanda Ngozi, Jaja and Kambili have a language of silence. The theme of two of the sections are “Speaking with our Spirits” which is the second section and “A Different Silence” which is the fourth section. The theme of “Speaking with our spirits” is showing other ways that the family communicates with each other while “A different silence” is more as using silence in a different way such as a punishment which Jaja and Kambili face.

Kambili who is the youngest child suffers silence the most. The silence she endures is a result to the abuse she is receiving from her father at home. Kambili is unable to speak without stuttering or coughing. Since Kambili doesn’t speak much her classmates give her the nickname of a “backyard snob” (51). There's a reason that she doesn't socialize, speak her mind, or stay after school and that reason is obvious. If she stays after school and arrives home late, there will most likely be a beating waiting for her. Kambili spends many hours with her Aunty Ifeoma and her cousin Amaka. They realise that Kambili must have a reason for her silence and whatever the reason is she needs to speak, and stand up for herself. After all the persuading Kambili starts to speak more confidently along with singing and some laughing.

Jaja strains under the tyranny of his father. Jaja remaining quiet for so long makes him feel guilty about being unable to protect Kambili and Mama from Papa. Unlike Kambili, Jaja is somewhat outgoing and rational. After spending some time with Aunty Ifeoma and realising that's how a home should feel, he decides that it’s time to speak up and if that means having to grow apart from Kambili then so be it.

Kambili and Jaja are united by silence. The two use their eyes as a way of speaking to each other the thoughts that can’t be said outloud. When Jaja begins to spread his wings a bit, Kambili is dismayed that she can no longer communicate with him via the secret language of their eyes. Jaja decides to abandon his catholic faith and starts to challenge his father. No longer leaving his room for dinner causing his mother to bring it up without hesitation causes Papa to get more hot headed and want to lash out. Unfortunately for Papa the barricade that Jaja put up has halted him into entering and lashing out at him. Papa has finally realised that he has lost his oldest child and son. As for Kambili she still loves her father dearly. She does not agree with the way Jaja has been handling things. Kambili understands that everyone makes mistakes but what's being failed to understand is the difference between a single mistake and a habit. Kambili uses her dreams to speak her mind. The dreams are clues to how she feels about certain events as well as people. Kambili doesn’t speak her mind, her mind speaks for her. Like many people she dreams that she has the qualities that others have. One is Aunty Ifeoma's laugh and personality because one day Kambili wishes she can talk and laugh as freely and energetic as she wants. Kambili uses her dreams as a gateway