The Waning and Waxing of Ifemelu’s Journey of Love in Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s Americanah

Abstract

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie is an internationally acclaimed Nigerian writer who grew to prominence with her novel Purple Hibiscus. Her novels exceptionally capture the beauty of Igbo and their sufferings faced in the world. Her third novel Americanah illustrates the different issues faced by the Nigerians in America and England due to their colour and culture. Ifemelu is the protagonist of the novel Americanah who represents the many sufferings faced by black women in America. Their identity is questioned at every occasion in America that makes the blacks feel inferior and traumatized. Ifemelu goes to America with great hopes which is crushed within a few days. Ifemelu’s is in deep love with her childhood sweet heart Obinze who encourages her take up studies in America. Her love life begins to trail due to her encounter with an American sportsman who exploits her sexually. She completely withdraws due to this sexual exploitation; she feels that she has betrayed Obinze and cuts her contact with him. Many years later she tries to make up with married Obinze which ruins Obinze’s family. The paper focuses on Ifemelu’s relationship with Obinze and the hardships and betrayals that crosses their path.