Territorial Feminism and the Reconfiguration of Gendered Spaces in Purple Hibiscus

Abstract

This paper examines the character of Beatrice in Purple Hibiscus through the lens of territorial feminism, a theoretical framework that explores the relationship between gender, power, and spatial control. In the novel, domestic space functions as a site of patriarchal authority where Eugene exerts physical, emotional, and psychological dominance over his family. Beatrice initially appears confined within this oppressive territory, embodying silence, submission, and endurance. However, a closer analysis reveals her gradual resistance to the structures that seek to control her body, voice, and agency. By tracing Beatrice's experiences within the domestic sphere, this study argues that her final act of defiance represents a rupture of patriarchal territorial boundaries and an assertion of selfhood. Through territorial feminist perspectives, the paper highlights how the home, traditionally perceived as a safe and private space, becomes a contested arena of power and resistance. Beatrice's transformation from victimhood to agency demonstrates the complex ways women negotiate, challenge, and ultimately dismantle oppressive territorial structures. This paper contributes to feminist literary criticism by foregrounding the significance of spatial politics in understanding women's resistance and empowerment in contemporary African literature.