Post #9: Connections Between Adichie's Stories

One of the most prominent connections I made between Adichie's stories was not only how the Nigerian culture differed greatly from the American culture, but also how the two perceived each other, and the resentment they held.  Though I could not find evidence of this them in "Cell One," I could make this connection between all three of Adichie's other stories.

In "The Thing Around Your Neck," the protagonist, with all these preconceived notions about America, finds the country disappointing.  Not only is her belief that "everybody in America had a car and a gun," but the people she meet treat her differently because of her ethnicity, and are almost ignorant and condescending to her.  Because of this, the protagonist feels enmity towards the country and just wants to be back where she belongs.  Similarly, in "Ghosts," there is a part where the main character describes his daughter's "faint, vaguely troubling American accent," and how he does not want to let her know about Ebere's visits, as she'll then have reason to force him to move to America and "live a life cushioned by so much convenience."  Like that of "The Thing Around Your Neck," the main character of this story is grudging toward the American ways of life.  He thinks that people in America are too pampered, too spoiled, whereas he has always known and believed in earning your own luxuries.  Even in "Tomorrow is Too Far," we see how Grandmama holds prejudices against America and the "black American woman" who took away her Nigerian son, and refuses to let her grandson be buried there.  As each of theses characters from each of these different stories exemplifies how Nigeria differs from America and the feelings of pride for their own culture and animosity towards the other, we can see that each persona resembles a piece of Adichie's own personality.