Motif of Laughter

• Motif


  A recurring theme that is usually dominant or central to the meaning or message of a literary text
• Laughter and silence


  • Powerful motifs in the novel Fantastic Purple Hibiscus by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
• Laughter


  • Floated over Kambili's head
  • Kambili dreamed of laughing but it did not sound like her own laughter
  • Kambili's cousins laugh freely and confidently
  • Kambili feels insecure when her cousins laugh at her
• Kambili and her family


  Not allowed to laugh or express themselves freely
• Kambili's cousins


  Able to laugh and speak freely, symbolising their increasing maturity and freedom from Papa's oppression
• Kambili: 'Thank you for not laughing at me and calling me a backyard snob'
• Kambili, Jaja and Mama


  Not allowed to laugh due to Papa's control
• Father and Mardi: 'I haven't seen you laugh or smile today Kambili'
• Anti-Wellness family


  Laughter is encouraged and seen as a gift from God
• Laughter in Anti-Wellness's house

  • Always rang out and bounced around all the walls and rooms
• Kambili associates Anti-Wellness's house with laughter, in contrast to her own family life