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T he Thing Around Your Neck by: Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

T he Thing Around Your Neck by: Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. “Imitation”, “A Private Experience”, “Ghosts”, “On Monday of Last Week” Presented by: Tea, Nicole, and Ayo. Chimamanda Adichie. Born in Nigeria Studied at Drexel University and Eastern Connecticut State University

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T he Thing Around Your Neck by: Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

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  1. The Thing Around Your Neckby: Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie “Imitation”, “A Private Experience”, “Ghosts”, “On Monday of Last Week” Presented by: Tea, Nicole, and Ayo

  2. ChimamandaAdichie Born in Nigeria Studied at Drexel University and Eastern Connecticut State University MA from Johns Hopkins and Yale. Human predicament from the perspective of a Nigerian Father a professor, grew up on a University Campus

  3. Other Works • Purple Hibiscus (2003) • Half of a Yellow Sun (2006) • One World: A Global Anthology of Short Stories (2009) • For Love of Biafra (1998) • The Headstrong Historian (2008) • Four Letter Word: New Love Letters (2007)

  4. Africa

  5. Nigeria 167 Million People Hausa/Fulani (primarily Muslim), Yoruba (Christian), Igbo (Christian). English (official) + Hausa, Fulani, Yoruba, Igbo + 500 more Oct 1960 Independence from UK

  6. Nigeria Today • 6,000 refugees from Liberia • Border disputes with Chad and Benin • Drug Trafficking • Oil- environmental repercussions • Growing economy

  7. “Imitation” What is femininity in Nigeria versus in America? How does Nkem regain her agency in her relationship? Are her actions Nigerian or American? American life vs. Nigerian life What is significant about Nkem’s relationship with Amaechi? What is the significance of the mask? (p. 23 and 39)

  8. “Imitation” • ‘At first, when she had come to America to have the baby, she had been proudly excited because she had married into the coveted league, the Rich Nigerian Men Who Sent Their Wives to America to Have Their Babies league. Then the house they rented was put up for sale. A good price, Obiora said, before telling her they would buy. She liked it when he said “we,” as though she really had a say in it. And she liked that she had become part of yet another league, the Rich Nigerian Men Who Owned House in American league.’ (page 26). • The last line of the short story is: “There is nothing left to talk about, Nkem knows; it is done.” • What does “it is done” mean?

  9. “A Private Experience” Religion Womanhood Consciousness/Sub-consciousness of Personal Boundaries, and Physical Territories Getting to know the Other How do they overcome their religious and class differences and why is this significant?

  10. “A Private Experience” • “’It is a work of evil,’ she says finally. Chika wonders if that is all the woman thinks of the riots, if that is all she sees them as—evil. She wishes Nnedi were here. She imagines the cocoa brown of Nnedi’s eyes lighting up, her lips moving quickly, explaining that riots do not happen in a vacuum, that religion and ethnicity are often politicized because the ruler is safe if the hungry ruled are killing one another. Then Chika feels a prick of guilt for wondering if this woman’s mind is large enough to grasp any of that.” (p. 48) • “Later, Chika will read in The Guardian that ‘the reactionary Hausa-speaking Muslims in the North have a history of violence against non-Muslims,” and in the middle of her grief she will stop to remember that she examined the nipples and experienced the gentleness of a woman who is Hausa and Muslim.” (p. 55)

  11. “Ghosts” How do revolutions change people? Losses because of a revolution… Effect on society and a person What does his dead wife represent? (p. 66-67) What about his dead daughter? His living daughter? Who is the other? James (the narrator) or Ikenna? How does Ikenna moving to the West impact how he views James and Nigeria in the present?

  12. “Ghosts” • “It was NTA some days ago, that broadcast an interview with yet another man accused of importing fake drugs-typhoid fever medicine in this case. ‘My drugs don’t kill people,’ he said, helpfully, facing the camera wide-eyes, as if in an appeal to the masses. ‘It is only that they will not cure your illness.’” (p. 72).

  13. “On Monday of Last Week” What happened on Monday of last week? Concept of elite culture, class differences “Neil took the card from Josh. ‘You know, Josh,’ he said, giving the card back, ‘it’s very sweet of you to give this to Kamara, but Kamara is your nanny and your friend, and this was for family.’ ‘Miss Leah said I could.’ Neil looked at Kamara, as if seeking support, but Kamara looked away and focused on opening the dishwasher.” (p. 91) Being racially mixed in America vs in Nigeria (p. 76) Bi-racial vs half-caste

  14. “On Monday of Last Week” • American motherhood versus Nigerian motherhood? • What are the differences between the two? • What is the significance of Kamara sabotaging her birth control? • Is she pregnant? • In Kamara’s eyes who is worthy of motherhood? • What does it mean to be an American parent versus a Nigerian parent? (p. 82).

  15. Overarching Themes • Moving • Belonging/Fitting In • Past/Nigeria? vs Present/America? • Clinging on to the Past • Any other questions or comments?

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