Plot
What brings the narrator to the United States?
The narrator wins a visa lottery, which brings her to the United States.
What is one way the narrator feels disconnected from American culture?
She feels disconnected from American culture because people make assumptions based on stereotypes about Africa.
What is unusual about the point of view used in the story?
The story is told in the second person ("you"), which is uncommon in fiction.
Who does the narrator become romantically involved with in America?
She becomes romantically involved with a white American man.
hat theme is shown through the narrator’s loneliness?
The narrator’s loneliness illustrates the theme of emotional isolation in the immigrant experience.
What kind of job does the narrator take after moving to America?
She takes a low-paying job as a waitress at a restaurant.
How does the narrator’s experience in America contrast with what her family expected?
Her family expected her to become wealthy and successful quickly, but instead she faced hardship and loneliness.
What does the “thing around your neck” symbolize?
The “thing around your neck” symbolizes the narrator’s anxiety, loneliness, and the emotional weight of immigration.
How does the narrator feel in the relationship over time?
At first, she feels a sense of connection, but later becomes emotionally distant and detached.
How does the story explore the idea of identity?
The story explores identity as something fluid, challenged by displacement and cultural pressure.
What major event causes the narrator to rethink her life in America?
A family tragedy back home prompts her to question her life in America.
What role does food play in expressing the narrator’s cultural identity?
Food connects her to her Nigerian identity, and her boyfriend’s lack of appreciation for it symbolizes cultural disconnect.
How does Adichie’s writing style reflect the narrator’s emotional state?
Adichie’s sparse and direct style mirrors the narrator’s emotional numbness and disconnection.
What is one reason the relationship becomes difficult for the narrator?
One reason is that her boyfriend, without meaning to, views her through a narrow lens and doesn't fully understand her cultural background.
What theme is expressed through the cultural differences in the relationship?
Cultural differences reveal how misunderstandings and mismatched values can undermine relationships.
What leads the narrator to feel increasingly isolated in her new environment?
Language barriers, cultural misunderstandings, and lack of a support network deepen her isolation.
How does the narrator’s relationship reflect a clash of cultural understanding?
Their relationship reflects a clash between Nigerian and American values, especially in how they interpret family, communication, and intimacy.
Why might the second-person narration create a more personal reading experience?
Second-person narration places the reader in the narrator’s shoes, making her experiences feel intimate and immersive.
How does the boyfriend try but fail to understand the narrator’s background?
He tries to relate by sharing his knowledge of Africa through books and lectures, but fails to understand her lived reality.
How does the story show the difference between appearance and reality?
There is a contrast between the American Dream the narrator was promised and the harsh reality she faces.
How does the story end for the narrator?
he narrator ultimately decides to return to Nigeria after reassessing her values and identity.
How does Adichie use simple language to convey complex emotions?
She feels pressure to embody and represent all of Nigeria in her behavior, especially when people see her as a "cultural ambassador."
How does Adichie use simple language to convey complex emotions?
Simple language enhances emotional impact by focusing on raw, universal feelings rather than elaborate description.
What realization helps the narrator decide to end the relationship?
She realizes that love without understanding or mutual respect for identity is not sustainable.
What deeper message does the story give about the immigrant experience?
The story conveys that the immigrant experience is often marked by silence, invisibility, and a longing for belonging.