Maternal Figures in Americanah
Americanah presents three maternal figures for Ifemelu: Ifemelu’s mother, Obinze’s mother, and Aunty Uju. They convey contrasting and complementary ideas about womanhood and personhood that influence who Ifemelu becomes.
Emotional instability defines Ifemelu’s mother, especially when she cuts her hair, proclaims that she has been “saved,” and announces that the family will attend a new church (Adichie 50). Cutting her hair is symptomatic of Ifemelu’s mother minimizing herself to conform to her new identity. “She bartered with [God], offering starvation in exchange for prosperity… She fasted herself bone-thin…” (Adichie 51). Enmeshment within a religious community educates Ifemelu about corruption in Nigeria. “Ifemelu did not think that God had given Pastor Gideon the big house and all those cars, he had of course bought them with money from the three collections at each service…” (Adichie 53). Ifemelu’s mother, however, uses religion to hide from reality, exhibited by her declaration that Aunty Uju’s newfound wealth is a miracle despite its obvious source (Adichie 54).
Aunty Uju is almost a progressive figure. Aunty Uju is a doctor, but her professional and financial security in Nigeria is derived from her proximity to the General (Adichie 55). Though her reliance on men as sources of stability leads directly to instability, Aunty Uju still instructs Ifemelu, after her breakup with Curt, “... to save the relationship, because she would not find another man who would love her as Curt had,” (Adichie 370). Ifemelu’s mother’s opinion is similar. “‘Remember that a woman is like a flower. Our time passes quickly,’” (Adichie 373). Additionally, Aunty Uju shrinks herself to assimilate in America. “Sometimes, while having a conversation, it would occur to Ifemelu that Aunty Uju had deliberately left behind something of herself, something essential, in a distant and forgotten place,” (Adichie 146). This mirrors Ifemelu's mother regarding religion.
Unlike Ifemelu’s mother and Aunty Uju, Obinze’s mother confronts power and asserts herself as a woman. The best example comes from Obinze’s explanation of why they left Nsukka. “‘She was on a committee and they discovered that this professor had misused funds and my mother accused him publicly and he got angry and slapped her and said he could not take a woman talking to him like that… She said she should not have been slapped because she is a full human being, not because she doesn’t have a husband to speak for her,’” (Adichie 71). Upon learning of her death, Ifemelu writes, “‘She was everything I wanted to be,’” (Adichie 459).
Ifemelu strongly embodies the principles of Obinze’s mother, going mostly in the opposite direction of her mother and Aunty Uju. Through her blog, she voices her opinions, gaining the financial stability to fully support herself (Adichie 378). While working at the magazine in Nigeria, she remains unafraid to express her thoughts, even if it could jeopardize her financial stability (Adichie 516). Ifemelu has learned, after observing her mother, Aunty Uju, and Obinze’s mother, that her greatest asset is her own intelligence and independence.
While Obinze’s mother and Ifemelu’s mother are opposites in terms of power and womanhood, Aunty Uju lies somewhere in between. The post highlights the contrast between the three, calling attention to their connections to Nigeria, God, hair, and their sense of self. By analyzing their connection to Ifemelu, however, her trajectory throughout the book can be better understood.
ReplyDeleteIn her childhood, Ifemelu was close to Aunty Uju and considered her a role model, in contrast to her own mother whom Ifemelu never really understood. The post brings up the idea that Aunty Uju is almost progressive. Considering everything the reader knows about Aunty Uju, it’s surprising that she is a doctor, a profession usually associated with capability. However, she still relies on the general for money and a sense of worth, leading directly to the moment where “both of them [were] aware that something between them was now different” (Adichie 99). As Ifemelu distances herself from Aunty Uju, her personality and ambitions stray further from her Aunty’s as well, demonstrated by her refusal to leave college for Curt.
Obinze’s mother refuses to be defined or be quieted by a man, voicing the opinion that “‘women are more sensible than men’” (Adichie 87). Ifemelu instantly looks up to her when they first meet, creating more distance between her and her aunt. Even though Ifemelu’s blog posts are anonymous, they contain a level of reflection and defiance that is obvious in Obinze’s mother, but absent in Ifemelu’s and suppressed in Aunty Uju.