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Voice:

“I had imagined...a house like those of the white newlyweds in the American films that NTA
showed on Saturday nights”(167)
Shift 1-
She was disillusioned(she had bought into the American Dream), but she is aware of the
actuality. Failed expectations
“They did not warn you about things like this when they arranged your marriage. No mention of
offensive snoring, no mention of houses that turned out to be furniture-challenged flats”(168)
Shift 1 1-
She was disillusioned(she had bought into the American Dream), but she is aware of the
actuality. Failed expectations

“I have thanked them both for everything--finding me a husband, taking me into their home...it
was only to avoid being called ungrateful”(170)
Shift 2: She is remembering more about home and is aware of how she did not really have much
say in the arranged marriage; she had to be thankful for the marriage arranged by her aunt and
uncle.
“I wish I could touch the meat, to examine its realness, as I often did at Ogbete Market, where
the butcher held up fresh-cut slabs buzzing with flies”(173)
Shift 2:She is nostalgic of home and her Nigerian culture and she is more in control of what she
wants.

”I stared at him in silence, shredding the coupons into smaller and smaller bits; broken-up
pictures of detergents and meat packs and paper towels fell to the floor (183)
“I threw more coupons on the floor, clasped my hands together, and dug my nails into my skin”
(184)
Shift 3: Here, she is showing a sign of her individual strength in that she is doing something
(although small), that would not please Dave(shredding the coupons). Additionally, she is
expressing her feelings through her actions instead of repressing her thoughts as in the past. She
later argues and expresses her anger and thoughts more directly.
“I went back...I rang the doorbell and he opened the door, stood aside, and let me pass”(186)
Shift 3: Here, she is more sure of her self-identity and knows what she wants. The end of the
story is hopeful in the sense that she shows a sign of strength and control in her life(rather than
being submissive), she is using to Dave to get her papers and then go on from there.
Conflict
● Internal Conflicts:
○ Feels pressure to follow through with the marriage arranged by her aunt and uncle
■ “It is like we won a lottery for you” (170)
○ Feels oppressed
■ “You have to speak english at home too, baby” (178)
○ She feels disappointed; her expectations of the American Dream aren’t fulfilled
■ “I had imagined”...”A house like those of white newlyweds” (167)

● External conflicts:
○ Dave lied to her...he was married to another woman before getting married to Chinaza
■ “‘You were married before’ i laced my fingers together because they started to
shake.” 183
○ Disagreement about food/ cultural norms
■ “Americans don't drink their tea with milk and sugar”171
○ She was not told the truth about Dave, specifically his job and living arrangements.
■ “They did not add that before doctors make a lot of money, they had to an
internship and a residency program.” (174)

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