I very much enjoyed Americanah because, as a white person and non-immigrant, it offered me a perspective I hadn't know before in an engaging, interesting way. However, the realism of the novel--specifically in regards to its potential use as an educational tool (a purpose I am not arguing the author had, but when discussing it in this context becomes relevant)--is severely weakened by a key factor that is present throughout: the superiority complex of the two main characters, Ifemelu and Obinze.
It honestly baffled me to realize that, to the very end, this high-and-mighty (bordering on cavalier, and sometimes surpassing that border) characterization persisted. From Nigeria to the West and back again, everybody Ifemelu and Obinze interacted with are somehow "lesser" than them: Ifemelu's mom is a sheep of religion, her dad is trying too hard, Ranyiundo is vapid and material-obsessed, Ginike has been caught and consumed by America, Kimberly is pathetic and meek, her sister is harsh and insecure, Curt is rather simple and unable to comprehend Ifemelu's complexity, Blaine is a nuisance and (again) a try-hard...and that's just Ifemelu's cast of supporting roles! Obinze interacts with people that are characterized as either dumber than him (his coworkers in London; his wife Kosi) or caught up in capitalism and corruption (literally every Nigerian he talks to other than Ifemelu and his mom). I cannot find a single example of a character actually being portrayed as equal to Obinze or Ifemelu-- except, of course, for each other. Nobody else is fleshed out or given sympathetic reasons for their actions; more often than not, it boils down to simply "they are corrupt" or "they are caught in the system".
("And we are not," the implication is. "We are better.")
Throughout the book, Obinze and Ifemelu are not only portrayed as the "ideal" relationship; they are portrayed as the superior relationship of superior people. Ifemelu and Obinze eventually get back together because, in short, they cannot find anybody else able to grasp what they can grasp, or see what they can see.
It is rather infuriating how self-indulgent this book is, especially when it presents a plethora of complex themes other than romance that are fairly well fleshed-out, most obviously those surrounding race in the contending countries. All of this is shadowed, however, in the irritating blanket of condescension that cloaks Ifemelu and Obinze wherever they go; I felt as if I was not rooting for them to be together because I simply wanted them to be happy, but because then I wouldn't have to keep reading about how sick and tired they were of the lowly peasants that surround them, susceptible to manipulation by state, people, and culture. I think it is very ironic that the author makes a mockery out of Blaine for his pretentiousness when her main characters are manic-pixie-dream-girls of haughty superiority.
The book would have benefited from a more complex roster of characters, in my opinion. I understand the need in a romance novel to craft a situation that makes it clear that the love interests truly belong together, but there are better ways to do that beyond writing a story that implies that they connect on a deeper level not because they love each other, but because nobody else could possibly understand them.
This post made me reflect on many of the relationships illustrated in this novel. While I agree with the characterization that some of the relationships paint characters in a better light than others, I do not think this is always the case. For this post, I will consider Ifemelu in response to your post. For example, Ifemelu clearly cares for Dike deeply; she goes so far as to postpone her trip to Nigeria to look after him. On page 454, Adichie writes, “She stood on the platform for a long time and wondered what she had been doing while Dike was swallowing a bottle of pills.” In this case, she clearly cares more about the well-being of her cousin than anything going on in her life. Though one could argue here that her feelings were due to Dike’s attempted suicide, one can find evidence earlier in the novel to refute this claim. On page 371, the novel states, “While Ifemelu ate, he [Dike] sat on the bed and told her about school. He was playing basketball now, his grades had improved, he liked a girl called Autumn.” In this relationship, readers can understand a different side of Ifemelu; this is a relationship in which she feels no pressure to be anything other than herself. The broader point about Ifemelu feeling superior is understandable, but I think she simply is trying to figure out how to live her life. She does not have the answers, relationships fall apart, and she gives people a fair chance.
ReplyDeleteI also noticed instances throughout the novel in which Ifemelu saw the actions or personalities of others as inferior to her own. Her attitudes towards service workers, like her hair stylist whom she seems to snap at after she returns to Nigeria, was one of the most startling examples of what you name as Ifemelu’s “superiority complex” (557). I have also been wrestling with this trait in Ifemelu, but rather than leaning towards the idea that it makes the story less enjoyable or less valid than if Ifemelu was perhaps humbler, I see this as something that makes Ifemelu’s character more relatable and real. This flaw in Ifemelu draws out the reality in Americanah because it points out that no real human is perfect.
ReplyDeleteIfemelu’s idealization of and deep love for Obinze is also what seems to be one of the larger reasons she views others as she does, especially Curt and Blaine. Curt and Blaine both make strong candidates for a lifelong companion to Ifemelu, but as Ifemelu states when she reunites with Obinze, “I always saw the ceiling with other men” (551). Obinze is the best and most near-perfect relationship Ifemelu has had, so perhaps the reason she looks down upon Curt and Blaine is because they do not meet the standards Obinze previously set, not because Ifemelu simply has a “superiority complex.” This speaks to Ifemelu’s love for and idolizing of Obinze, which although may be hidden, is always present throughout the novel.
While reading the book, something irked me and I couldn't quite put my finger on it- but you seem to have pointed out exactly what it was that was silently lurking in the novel- the underlying "superiority complex". I agree with what you stated in your second paragraph: "everybody Ifemelu and Obinze interacted with are somehow 'lesser' than them". While I understand that the protagonists of a story must be elevated in a way as to distinguish them from the rest of the characters, part of it did feel a little judgmental in a sense. While seeing intelligent women and men of color rise and be successful throughout the novel (Blaine being a professor, Ifemelu a respected blogger, etc) was inspiring, it made me wonder why the everyday, normal, strong characters couldn't be celebrated as much. The trait most praised in the novel is intellect and smarts alone. The academic praise is fine to an extent, but is the novel haphazardly casting aside those that aren't as highly educated? As you state above, "Nobody else is fleshed out or given sympathetic reasons for their actions; more often than not, it boils down to simply 'they are corrupt' or 'they are caught in the system'". Only the intelligent and wise are given reasons as to their faults; everyone else is merely dumb and caught up in the world's expectations. This highlight's the obsession with needing to have higher education and be an intellectual. Overall, I think the novel could have elevated the protagonists in a different manner in order to not put down those who might not be able to pursue higher education (which is not bad at all; everyone has their own path). Your post really allowed me to fully flesh out this thought.
ReplyDeleteThis description of Ifemelu makes one rethink the interactions she has with others throughout the book and highlights those interactions in which she seems to hold herself as inherently better than others. The examples you have listed make a great case, but the main argument one could use against this line of argument is Ifemelu’s interactions with Dike. The interactions she has with Dike are like that of an older sister to a younger brother. For example, during the summer she stays with Aunty Uju in Philadelphia, she comments on how Dike was “the highlight of her days…she missed him,” (Adichie 162). She also is in deeply concerned for Dike when she hears he tried to overdose on Tylenol. Those examples help to show she does not think she is constantly better than everyone, although she does think that about quite a lot of people.
ReplyDeleteObinze, meanwhile, does not seem to have that same problem. Although he does interact with people that he feels are less educated, he quite often is mad at them not because of a sense of self superiority. He is mad at the coworkers besides Nigel because they do not split tips evenly. He does not like Kosi because she is submissive and “has grown an intemperate dislike of single women and an intemperate love of God,” (Adichie 43). The criticisms of Obinze’s character are legitimate, but quite often there are ulterior motives to his decisions, not just a sense of superiority.
I felt this same frustration while reading the book, to the point where it felt as though it cheapened the quality of the rest of the book. It was strange to feel that I had somehow shifted from reading a complex and interesting look on the interpersonal relationships between Ifemelu and the many people she interacts with to some YA fiction level romance novel in which the main love interests must be the only *true* option for one another.
ReplyDeleteYou're correct in saying that this had an effect on almost every side character in the book, though what really struck me with this problem was the underdevelopment of Kosi's character. I kept expecting her to receive more development, something to make her more than the dumb wife who wasn't sophisticated enough for Obinze. Something that Obinze liked about her, something that made it a genuine obstacle for him to be married to her. I was disappointed to not see this, and it made the ending of the book feel cheapened to me. It felt as though Obinze and Ifemelu got together simply because they were meant to, despite no real closure on the challenges they faced. Specifically, I was amazed that there was no reasoning as to why Obinze had failed to leave Kosi the first time, and yet somehow managed with no problems the second. He'd been worried about his daughter, and yet suddenly he wasn't. Because of that, it felt like an unfinished story to me, which revolved largely around this issue of superiority that you discussed.
While reflecting on the novel after reading this blog post, I realized that something similar had been bothering me about Ifemelu and Obinze as well. To me, it almost seemed that because they were the main characters and I had connected to them in greater volumes than other characters in the book, that I should support their thoughts and decisions and believe they were always right. After reading this blog post, I now realize that I could have been "rooting" for each of the characters because I was seeing the world through their as you say, "superiority complex," despite knowing that some of their actions were wrong or unjustified.
ReplyDeleteStarting with Ifemelu, and her work for Zoe, she felt that her ideas were the correct ones, better than all those of her coworkers’. The funny part is I believed she was completely in the right, because I saw the story through her thoughts that every other idea was inferior.
Next, Obinze. At the end of the novel as Obinze starts taking Ifemelu out to meals every day in the open public, I thought that a great example of the superiority complex as well. Despite openly cheating on his wife and planning to leave her and his daughter, I found myself torn. Torn because I knew his actions were terribly wrong, yet I could only see the story through his eyes, which made the scenario seem better.
This was a great post that pointed out something that many readers undoubtedly overlooked.