Curt, a wealthy white man, was able to provide Ifemelu with the cushions of the American Dream using his luck and privilege. One day during their relationship, Ifemelu reflects on her situation: watching football on television and having prepaid trips, “that was what Curt had given her, this gift of contentment, of ease.” (202) However, due to Curt’s differing background and distasteful intentions, their relationship struggled. His understanding of the complexities Ifemelu faced as an American African were sparse. He wanted to feel Ifemelu’s resentment at society, but lacked deeper understanding. So, instead of comprehension, Curt had control over Ifemelu. Adichie revealed that Curt’s past relationships had been similar to that of a young child collecting baseball cards, each of with a different woman of color. In Curt’s mind, he was Ifemelu’s white man, and she was his black woman. After Curt and Ifemelu’s inevitable parting, she looked back on him with a “wistful sadness” (302) which further conveyed Ifemelu’s feelings of disappointment in the fact that Curt simply could not understand her.
There was also Blaine, a perfect man on paper. Blaine and Ifemelu were able to have the beginnings of a sturdy, intimate bond due to their joint love for Obama, and engagement in related politics. Yet, being African American, Blaine failed to fully connect with Ifemelu’s Nigerian roots, similar to Curt. Blaine’s heavy involvement in racial/social protests made Ifemelu feel alienated in the unfamiliar. In her eyes, she only “became Black” when she stepped foot in the US, whereas Blaine knew all about these ideas, having “been Black” since birth. After Ifemelu lied and didn’t attend a protest with Blaine, he had an outburst that spiraled into attacks on her persona. Ifemelu recognized “a subtle accusation, not merely about her laziness, but also about her Africaness.” (346) This demonstrates Blaine’s subconscious judgments of Ifemelu, and how their aspirations differed so much they couldn’t possibly compromise long term.
But always, there was Obinze.
At the beginning of the novel, Obinze’s mother talked about a book titled: Heart of the Matter. She said it was a wise novel, and “the human stories that matter are those that endure.” (70) The best example of this book’s philosophy is Ifemelu and Obinze’s story. They shared an unspoken connection, a love for eachother that resulted in comfort, understanding, and determination for one another. Unlike Curt and Blaine, Obinze did not want to control Ifemelu. Instead, he constantly reassured her of her ability and identity. After the failed relationships, and the brokenness, Ifemelu could reside with Obinze. At the end of the novel, Ifemelu ended up reading The Heart of the Matter because of Obinze’s mother. A perfect full circle moment for Americanah, and a human story that definitely did endure.
I agree with your appreciation of Adichie’s full-circle storyline, and especially found it interesting that each of Ifemelu’s relationships lacked what she had with Obinze. Curt gave her a comfortable lifestyle, yet as a result almost expected her to not have an issue with being controlled. His lack of understanding about the complexities of race in America from her point of view further emphasized how he wanted to be in control of Ifemelu’s narrative, something that Obinze would never dare do. Even before their first interactions with one another, his friend warned him that, “....She can argue. She can talk. She never agrees,”, yet this only made him more attracted to her (Adichie 73). Throughout the rest of the novel, the reader learns of her various entanglements with other men, each fractured, except for Obinze. You wrote, “But always, there was Obinze,”, and I believe that perfectly encapsulates the feeling I expressed as after each failed relationship, there was a shift back to him, her one true lover. I usually do not enjoy romance novels, but this continued full-circle love kept me engaged, and is one of my favorite elements of the book.
ReplyDeleteI found Ifemelu’s “full circle” relationship with Obinze to be the most compelling aspect of Americanah. Much of the novel is centered around Ifemelu’s search for identity. She moves across the world and transitions into adulthood, all while trying to navigate America’s complicated racial, cultural, and class dynamics. Throughout all of that turmoil and growth, one constant of Ifemelu’s identity emerges: her love for Obinze. The quote you chose to encapsulate their relationship, that “the human stories that matter are those that endure” (70), strengthens my idea of how special their bond was and how important he was for her identity. Their relationship was marked by misunderstanding and absence, as well as morally dubious infidelity. They were not perfect childhood sweethearts. Still, Ifemelu and Obinze describe each other with great affection and intimacy, even as they spend years without seeing, or even speaking, to each other. A particularly stirring quote which illustrates this occurs when Ifemelu is recalling a conversation between herself, Obinze, and his mother: “In the following years, even after she was no longer in touch with him, she would sometimes remember his mother’s words—make sure you and Obinze have a plan—and feel comforted” (101). In hard times, she clung to an imagined future with Obinze. When Ifemelu dated Curt, she refused to tell him about Obinze, as it felt “sacrilege… to refer to him as an ex” (196). Obinze held a sacred, enduring place in Ifemelu’s heart.
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