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Americanah Timelines, Conflicts, Themes, Characters, Page 428: "She…
Americanah Timelines
Conflicts
Man vs. Self
**Ifemelu is torn between her African Indentity and African American-Identity in America mostly due to the narrative created around her hair. In Africa she did not have to worry about her hair but in America she is forced to straighten in. The burning smell of her hair is a symbolic loss of identity and a turning point of her succumbing to American Eurocentric beauty norms
Ifemelu is confused because she is treated like ‘Black-Americans’ by white people but she is African, not American. She didn’t see herself as ‘African American’ because she’s African and ‘Black people’ are American. But white people in America treat Black people and Black immigrants the same.
Having to deal with financial loss
Struggling to find a job
The guilt Ifemelu starts to experience when she feels as though she is loosing her culture and history as she adapts more to the United States
"'You don't remember the kiosk?' her mother asked. Ifemelu paused. A sepia tone to her memories. She could not remember the kiosk" (Adichie 247).
Having to forge her own identity in order to immigrate to the U.S.
Not feeling comfortable opening up to her white boyfriend (Curt) about racially targeted experiences she may have had because of his ignorance of racial discrimination in America.
Loosing connection with friends and family
Where can we place Iffemelu's physical assault in Freytag's Pyramid? Can it be perceived as the inciting incident?
Obinze experiences a conflict when he starts to realize that he no longer wants to be with his wife and wants to be with Ifemelu instead.
The cultural differences between Ifemelu and her roommates from the difference of intent around vocabulary to hygienic norms
Themes
The importance of being honest to others and oneself
The reason Obinze fell in love with Ifemelu and remained in love even after marrying Kosi was because of her honesty
The moment in which Ifemelu stops using her American accent and starts embracing her natural hair is when she finally starts being honest with herself and ends up happier than before
The dynamic of confronting a conversation about race with someone who denies their white privilege.
Page 185: "...and for a moment Ifemelu was sorry to have come from Africa to be the reason that this beautiful woman, with her bleached teeth and bounteous hair, would have to dig deep to feel such pity, such hopelessness."
The concept that being a wealthy part of the majority provides a false shield from the consequences of racist remarks and actions.
The role a new environment has on the development and consolidation of ones identity
The transition from being financially dependent on someone to being self-reliant can alter one's personality and mindset.
The effects of social alienation on the African-American conscious and subconscious
Characters
Obinze
Calm, and intelligent man born in Nigeria. Also Ifemelu's love intrest
His mother is a professor at the University of Lagos, offered to help him get a temporary visa to England.
Obsessed with the idea of America, reads American literature
His mother offers him a temporary visa to go to England as her "Research assistant". He accepts her offer.
Lives undocumented in England for a time, when he is about to get married in a green card marriage he gets deported.
Aunty Uju wishes for him to be raised without the confusion of "Two languages" (pg. 134) What does this say about the connection between language and identity?
Faces racism in school
Doesn't entirely understand why because his mom always told him that he wasn't Black
Ifemelu's cousin, Aunty Uju's son with the General
Ifemelu (Protagnoist)
Intelligent, stubborn, outspoken
Nigerian women who moves to America to attend University
Has many difficulties adjusting to the American culture but eventually becomes a citizen and starts a blog about race
Aunty Uju: Ifemelu's mother's sister
Changes herself once she moves to America in order to attempt to fit in
How does Aunty Uju change as a result of her migrating?
She was a strong independent doctor in Nigeria, but relied on The general for his wealth and status. When she moved to America, her life changed into a more stressful and difficult one with balancing Dike and her career as a doctor.
Aunty Uju had the best man in Lagos, he was rich, he was powerful, etc. When she moves to America she settles for a man who wouldn’t have a chance with her back in Nigeria, Ifemelu notices this but Aunty Uju says “she’ll take what she can get”
Wambui: Ifemelus
friend from college
Page 428: "She recognized, in his tone, a subtle accusation, not merely about her laziness, her lack of zeal and conviction, but also about her Africanness: she was not suffficiently furious because she was African, not African American,"