The Praxis of Artistry: Humour and Caricature in Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s Purple Hibiscus

Abstract

This study commenced by pointing out the lacuna that exists in stylistic and literary criticism and advocated for a balanced study in the areas of ‘what’ and ‘how’ in literary studies. The aim of this study which is the analysis of humour and caricature in Adichie’s Purple Hibiscus was stated and one of the objectives of the study is to find out how the devices of humour and caricature can develop the themes of the novel. Tendency humour and caricature were propounded as frameworks for the analysis of humour and caricature in Adichie’s Purple Hibiscus. They were applied in the analysis of the sampled passages from the novel on humour and caricature. Some of the findings of the study are: Hmour and caricature constitute elements that authenticate a work of art as an artistic and a literary work. They as well endow a literary work with the quality that makes it serve a corrective purpose.