Ifemelu's Struggles In America

In the novel Americanah, author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie uses protagonist Ifemelu’s struggles and experiences as a platform to critique the negative aspects of American life. Specifically, she describes the harsh realities Africans face in preserving their true identity. A key method that Adichie employs to establish her stance on this issue is through Ifemelu’s encounters with secondary character Aunty Uju. In the early stages of the novel, Aunty Uju is portrayed as a well-respected individual to whom Ifemelu can confide in. Yet, when Ifemelu moves to America and begins living with Aunty Uju and her son Dike, there is an apparent disconnect between their values and way of life. Aunty Uju’s loss of identity and overall poor experience in America leads to Ifemelu’s …show more content…
Adichie sets the tone by opening with, “It was Sunday morning, Aunty Uju called, agitated and strained” (267). This description reveals how serious Aunty Uju is taking the situation and also demonstrates the difficulty she is having in raising Dike on her own as she calls Ifemelu for help. By using the words “agitated and strained”, Adichie is implying that Aunty Uju has faced many hardships during her time in America. The phone call begins with Aunty Uju complaining to Ifemelu that Dike refuses to wear the shirt she put out for him to church. “Look at this boy! Come and see the nonsense he wants to wear to church. He has refused to wear what I brought out for him. You know that if he does not dress properly, they will find something to say about us. If they are shabby, it’s not a problem, but if we are, it is another thing” (267). It is clear that Aunty Uju places the utmost importance on physical appearance and wants Dike to avoid standing out when they are at church. She would like to avoid attention being drawn to Dike and would prefer to simply fit