CHARACTERIZATION OF MALE CHARACTERS IN CHIMAMANDA NGOZI ADACHIE'S PURPLE HIBISCUS

Patriarchy, domestic violence, and Religion have over the years been a veritable tool of domination and control in most African communities. This challenge motivates this research in an attempt to unearth the interplay between the aforementioned factors in perpetuating domestic violence. Purple Hibiscus by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie was adopted as the primary text of this study as it vividly captures the intercourse of patriarchy and religion in perpetuating domestic violence through its major characters of Kambili, Eugene, Jaja and Beatrice. The research was guided by two major objectives been to examine how Chimamanda portray male characters in the primary text as well as study their relationship with the female counterpart. To achieve this objectives, purposive sampling was adopted which allow the researcher to rationally pick the major Characters that will aid in answering the research questions which are Kambili, Eugene, Jaja, Beatrice, Papa-Nnukwu, Father Amadi and Aunty Ifeoma. Qualitative research design was adopted and content Analysis was employed in the study of the primary text. To present an academic lens to the study, the Post-colonial theory was adopted as a theoretical framework of analysis. The study realized among others that Eugene was an autocratic character who uses religion to suppress and subjugate his household to constant violence whereas Jaja was presented as an intelligent and determined teenager who symbolizes freedom. Papa-Nnukwu and Father Amadi on the other hand were portrayed as soft and loving, posing a different form of masculinity to Eugene. The study recommended among other things that the government and society have a legal and moral obligation to institute laws and platforms to prevent and protect victims of domestic violence.