The novel Purple Hibiscus, written by Nigerian author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, portrays several key themes, yet the most prominent is that of the freedom of the members of the family. An Igbo speaking Nigerian family portrays many qualities, yet many flaws, most of which are due to the presence of their father, Eugene. However, a trip to their aunt, Ifeoma, soon sparks a change in the children and later in their mother. During the course of the novel, key events and actions trigger a change in the family, thus beginning a revolution against the “rule” of the father. These significant events for personal freedom imitate the road to independence of the Nigerian people from the British. Throughout the novel, the transformation of the family’s voice and actions lead to a development of their personal freedom mirroring the Nigerian fight for independence against British rule. One of the reasons the British were successful in ruling their colonies was because of their style of ruling called the indirect rule (Khapoya 107). Rulers or chiefs of different ethnic groups were invited and sometimes even bribed to join the British in colonizing the country (“England’s Indirect Rule”). The local rulers would receive many presents such as protection and money for their loyalty to the British. In this administrative style, the British would pass an order to the leaders of the ethnic groups, and the leaders would then enforce the commands on their people. The advantage of this type of ruling was that the local people were still allowed to practice their cultures and traditions, but there were many negative aspects of this rule, too. Many natives were forced to follow commands against their wishes which created this feeling of imprisonment amongst the inhabitants of Britain’s colonies. These commands could range from paying taxes to changing beliefs and converting into Christianity (Khapoya 107). Nigeria being one of Britain’s colonies was ruled through indirect rule as they did with all their colonies. The way Nigerians were treated by the British and the change in their values during colonialism and their road to independence is portrayed in Purple Hibiscus. In the novel, missionaries arrived in Nigeria and managed to convert several citizens - mostly the rich or powerful - into Christianity, but there were many that refused to change their beliefs. The missionaries represent the British that arrived in Nigeria and managed to bring the leaders of the different ethnic groups on their “side”. The missionaries left behind Christianity and various different rules such as having absolutely no relations with the pagans or not drinking or eating in the house of a pagan. These rules weren’t part of the practices of Christianity, but were taught by the missionaries to the local leaders - such as Papa - who were to make sure these rules were followed by everyone. The different characters in the book such as Papa, Mama, Kambili, and Jaja represent the different types of people, their beliefs, and actions during Nigeria’s colonization and the country’s struggle for independence. Throughout the book, Papa is represented as one of the local leaders that joined hands with the British due to the power he has over his family and his treatment towards them, forcing them to follow his rules and regulations by saying that what he says is right because that is what the missionaries and Christianity teaches. His wife and children behave, act, and even speak to please Papa and protect themselves from his punishments. They follow all his commands without any question just as how the colonized were forced to obey the commands the ethnic group’s leaders received from the British without having any say. “The British believed Africans were essentially different from Europeans and would stay that way. This point of view invited racism, implying that Africans were not just different but also inferior” (“The Story of Africa”). It is well known; people that feel superior over others treat the inferiors as being unequal - especially if racism is added in, too, and more often than not tend to order the inferiors around. The missionaries led Papa to believe that he was one of them, which is why Papa started “ruling” those under, or lower, than him, copying the way the British treated those under them. Papa considers himself as one of the whites despite his skin color. He abandoned his ancestors’ traditions and cultures just to fit in with them. He acts and behaves like the whites and even