UNDERSTANDING TROUBLED BEHAVIOURS: NARCISSISM IN SELECTED CHARACTERS IN ADICHIE’S PURPLE HIBISCUS

Abstract

Troubled behaviours are psychological issues showing signs of deviant consciousness in the characters leading to the feelings of alienation and fragmentation. The common symptoms of the deviant behaviors manifest as a form of narcissism or psychosomatic disorder. Chimamanda Adichie’s text, Purple Hibiscus captures characters who present one abnormal behavior or the order which ordinarily may raise questions or interrogation. Using a psychoanalytical framework of study, this paper aims at examining the unconscious derives manifest as narcissistic tendencies, presenting as abnormal behaviours and a complex form of neuroses in the characters, including feeling of self importance, delusion and other forms of personality disorder. A qualitative methodology of textual analysis of the select text as primary source of data and other secondary materials is deployed in the work. The study highlights the need for individuals to probe the underlying cause of their behaviour so as to contain and manage resistible abnormal behavioural manifestations that affect peaceful co existence.