"Americanah" Week Four (Ch. 23 - 30)

Week Four! All about Obinze and aren't we glad for it! **It is also to be noted that "Americanah" is adult fiction, so please be advised.**

Ch. 23: Finally! Another Obinze chapter! Ifemelu's POV is interesting - if a bit annoying - but I've been waiting to read about Obinze's side of things. The chapter picks up with Obinze in London and meeting some Angolans to set up a scam marriage with a girl named Cleotilde. As he is in the process of getting everything set up, Obinze flashes back to how he ended up in London. Basically, after finishing college in Nsukka, Obinze is just going through the motions (and sleeping with college-aged girls) while dreaming about being in America. His mom gets sick of it and brings him to London as her research assistant on a six-month visa (then leaves him there with his cousin). The chapter ends with Obinze self-reflecting that he needs to reconcile with his mother. I love that Obinze self-reflects and tries to grow from his experiences. Ifemelu just blames someone else or even thinks that the devil is at work (to showcase her mother's influence, but still). Overall, I like the chapter, but I wish Adichie showed how Obinze reacted to Ifemelu ghosting him after she was assaulted. She gives impression that he became depressed, which gets worse by his inability to obtain a visa to America. However, I want to see his thought process and emotions when Ifemelu goes dark on him. I know how a girl would react, but how would a boy? Especially a boy that is so, indubitably in love with a girl?

Ch. 24: This chapter has very little present action as it focuses on self-reflection and flashbacks (a theme with Obinze). The reflection focuses a lot on Obinze's cousin and his wife, and how they have changed so much as they have gotten older, had kids, and moved to the UK. The only action that happens in the present that is really important is Obinze's reaction to Ifemelu's email that she sent at the end of chapter 22. I'm so glad that we get to see Obinze's anger, even if it is only in his mind. Maybe Adichie does this to contrast men's and women's ways of thinking and handling emotions? However, Ifemelu also bottles up her emotions, to a point (she did have a mini-breakdown in front of Ginika at the end of chapter 15). The self-reflection about Obinze's cousin and wife also contrasts with the difference between men and women. Obinze's reflection of them is that they used to be more on the same wavelength when they were in college, but married life changed them (especially the cousin's wife).

Ch. 25: This chapter focuses on two interconnecting aspects: people changing in order to get a higher place in the world, and Obinze obtaining someone's National Insurance (Social Security) card in order to obtain work and move towards getting a visa to gain a better life. All the events of in this chapter take place before chapter 24. Obinze mainly reflects (kinda bitterly) on the fact that no one (other than his family) will help him. It kinda feels a little woe-is-me because he doesn't understand that what he is doing is illegal and could affect everyone else involved. I also don't think he can judge people not helping him because maybe they got to where they were with no help because people didn't want to mess with a sticky situation. I've definitely felt Obinze's feelings, but looking back on it, I can't blame people for not helping me. People don't owe me anything and we live in a capitalist society. People look out for themselves above all, which might seem difficult to someone who comes from a different kind of society.

Ch. 26: This short chapter focuses on Obinze working on jobs with other immigrants, and native Englishmen. Obinze notes, like Ifemelu, that he feels more of a kinship with the other immigrants. I understand Obinze's kinship towards other immigrants because England has a reputation of being a little xenophobic (oh the irony...). Brexit kinda solidifies that rumor, doesn't it?

Ch. 27: Another short chapter that is another self-reflection. Obinze is in a bookshop, drinking an overpriced coffee, and reading books that he isn't going to pay for (reminds me of my teenage years, but that was because I wanted too many books). Obinze is trying to find his old self as he reads American books, magazines, and newspapers. However, he doesn't find anything of substance, which is fair because he wants to see how people live in America but it's so vast and different that you'll never get a straight answer from the media. He also interacts with a woman and her son, which provokes him to think about his situation of being an illegal immigrant and about his past with Ifemelu. He doesn't really reflect too long on Ifemelu because it seems painful for him and we've all been in that position of not wanting to think about an ex.

Ch. 28: The only reason that this short chapter is here is to show how dangerous being an illegal immigrant is. Obinze has to deal with the man, who is letting him use his National Insurance card, threatening to report him if he doesn't pay him more. Then at the job he's working at, Obinze is semi-caught and never goes back because they are asking to see his passport. You can definitely feel Obinze's anxiety and fear, which is the main point of this very short chapter.

Ch. 29: Obinze catches up with his old high school friend, Emenike, who is doing well for himself in the UK. Obinze's main reason for reaching out to Emenike is because he needs money to pay for the scam marriage, which has risen in price. Through Emenike, Obinze meets wealthy Brits with different views from himself and each other. The dinner party is a little painful to read because of how out of place Obinze seems. He's like an outsider looking in and he doesn't seem to really know what to make of the situation. The chapter doesn't state whether or not he gets the money, but the following chapter is his scam marriage. I do think it's interesting that there's a whole chapter about Obinze trying to use a friend to his advantage. It's what he hates most about people later in life when he is wealthy. It was a great way to show the contradictions within himself, and how much his time in London changes him into the man we meet in Chapter Two.

Ch. 30: It's the day of the scam marriage! While on their way to the marriage section of the courthouse, Obinze is apprehended and arrested for being in the UK with an expired visa (apparently he's been in the UK for 3 YEARS!!). The rest of the chapter is just Obinze spending some time in a detainment facility until they deport him back to Nigeria, which ends the chapter. Reading this chapter, you can feel Obinze really start becoming numb to his surroundings. He's finally given up in a way because now he sees himself never getting to America. The UK was his best shot at getting to America due to the 9/11 attacks and restrictions. So now we know why Obinze seems so numb in chapter two. There are probably other reasons to add on to it (check out Week One for those reasons).

Final Thoughts: I like that Adichie shows how life is for people that immigrate to a new country, both illegally and legally, through Obinze and Ifemelu. Looking back, I don't like that Ifemelu resorts to non-consensually selling her body in order to obtain money, while Obinze just works demeaning jobs. I feel there is a gender bias there because men can go through what Ifemelu went through. Maybe it's a cultural thing and that's why Obinze never did because maybe he never thought of it? He technically sold himself through the National Insurance card scam because it reminded me of indebted servants a little bit. Adichie definitely wanted to show different sides of the same coin, but I hate that the woman had to deal with the sexual aspect. However, maybe then it wouldn't be seen as real.

Week Five will be posted on Friday, August 21st! Week Six (the final week for "Americanah") will hopefully be posted by next Wednesday, August 26th.