Join Collegium Institute and Dappled Things: The Quarterly of Ideas, Art, and Faith for our online Global Catholic Literature Seminar on Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s novel, Purple Hibiscus. Adicihie’s debut novel has become a classic of Nigerian literature and a powerful reflection on sin, power, and the possibility of grace. The novel, written through the eyes of a teenage girl, portrays a family and a country falling apart. Faced by the generosity, courage, and terrible cruelty of her father, Kambili seeks to find a way to grow and survive. Marked by the resonances of Palm Sunday, the novel is a fitting text for the Lenten season.
In this seminar, we will explore the text’s depictions of colonization, Nigerian culture, family, and faith. We’ll discuss the novel as a tragedy while considering the possibility of hope and redemption within the arc suggested by the story. We will also consider the Catholicity of this novel, exploring the role of post-colonial literature in the Catholic corpus, and examining the possibilities of redemption within a tragic family.
Chimamanda Adichie is a major new voice in literature having published several novels and essays. She has been awarded a MacArthur grant and was awarded an honorary degree by the University of Pennsylvania in 2020. Born and raised in Nigeria, she continues to write from both the United States and Nigeria and is a significant figure in contemporary global Catholic literature.
Schedule & Facilitators: This seminar will take place from 7:00pm–8:30pm ET on the following Mondays in March, with each discussion led by a special guest facilitator:
March 7, featuring Fr. Emmanuel Katongole (Professor of Theology and Peace Studies at the University of Notre Dame). Reading: Pages1–70
March 14, featuring Cynthia Wallace (Associate Professor of English, St. Thomas More College, University of Saskatchewan). Reading: Pages 71–161
March 21, featuring Ann Thomas (Managing Editor of Dappled Things). Reading: Pages 162–253
March 28, featuring Terence Sweeney (John and Daria Barry Foundation Fellow at the University of Pennsylvania; Theologian-in-Residence at Collegium Institute). Reading: Pages 257–307
Zoom Information: This seminar will be held virtually via Zoom. We will send the Zoom link to all registrants before the seminar begins.
Registration Fees & Deadlines:
Early Bird Registration (ends February 16 at 11:59pm): $65
Regular Registration (ends March 1 at 11:59pm): $75
This seminar is open to anybody who would like to participate, regardless of past experience with the text. To learn more and register, click the button below.
If you have any questions about this seminar, please don't hesitate to reach out to Emmie Brown at ebrown@collegiuminstitute.org.