«Aku-nna understood that she was too insignificant is regarded as a true blessing.» The woman is a girl, and you may a wedding isn’t experienced happy unless a man has actually sons. An effective female’s worthy of was counted only regarding the sum of money she you’ll bring to the woman father in the way of an effective fiance price.
Bondage and Oppression
Thraldom is illustrated straightforwardly regarding profile away from Chike, who comes from an enthusiastic oshu loved ones, a servant members of the family. Even though their grandma is a beneficial princess during the a surrounding community, she is kidnapped and enslaved. Following the Europeans stumbled on Nigeria, slavery became illegal. The freed slaves was delivered to missionary universities where they certainly were knowledgeable. While the freed submissives and their descendants sooner won high elite group salaries and possessed larger Eu-build home, they certainly were never recognized into the village. A father choose to eliminate his daughter than just has actually their wed an oshu.
Emecheta spends the newest theme regarding thraldom, however, not just in terms of the oshu. She as well as portrays female, in such a way, while the slaves to help you males. A female is bought and sold from the fiance rate. She is considered, because of the her the people, such as for instance a servant buyer may look at their the slave. The woman muscles gets a product that will render wealth on friends when it comes to of numerous children. Shortly after becoming kidnapped, Okoboshi’s father «put chalk, new icon regarding fertility, on her behalf boobs and you will prayed in order to his ancestors you to definitely Aku-nna would use it to feed the numerous college students she are gonna has actually having their man.»
Defiance and you may Opposition
Defiance of rigorous laws and regulations regarding neighborhood rises more sluggish within this novel from character away from Aku-nna. Considering the lady during the brief procedures and you will screws from the lady inside the fits out of anxiety or shame. Earliest, of fear she talks the woman brain and extremely decidedly refuses to accept a journey towards the a motorcycle. 2nd, out of embarrassment she will not cut off their clothes and bathe in public places. Slowly and gradually, she increases the woman opposition up until she finds by herself working in a relationship with Chike, the new descendent from slaves, a romance which is purely forbidden. Because of the guaranteeing that it dating, Aku-nna defies this lady mom and her stepfather, additionally the personal legislation from the lady entire community. However, regardless of if she encourages the connection, their defiance was couch potato, because if the connection was in fact broadening by itself which have Aku-nna tagging together behind they. She moves closer to Chike almost involuntarily. In a single incidence, she desires to end your away from stating that their relationship is hopeless, and you will she talks about their throat together with her give «being unsure of the spot where the boldness which had been doing work within her emerged away from.»
While the story generates so you can a climax, very really does Aku-nna’s courage generate. Her bravery, in turn, produces the woman defiance. Immediately following Aku-nna’s times happens to be public knowledge, she declines «point-blank» to consume the fresh poultry that has been slaughtered in her own prize. At this point from the facts, Aku-nna records exactly what really well could have been their very first defiant think. «She try start to believe it was unjust one she was not are welcome a suppose within her life, and you will she try begin to dislike the woman mom to be so inactive regarding it most of the.» The woman mom’s passivity seems to awaken Aku-nna’s defiance, and you will out of this stage in the tale, Aku-nna motions into the the fresh climatic world.
Since the she really stands 
facing Okoboshi, the students son that kidnapped the girl given that a possible fiance, Aku-nna loudly and forcefully talks call at an attempt to save yourself herself. It is from concern with just getting raped but in addition to to be deprived regarding ever before seeing Chike again you to definitely she discovers her voice and creates a story thus vile you to Okoboshi will leave this lady by yourself. The latest vile story that she creates is a rest, but the sit represents the brand new epitome from her defiance. She says to Okoboshi that she’s not good virgin; and you can, additionally, she shed her virginity to a great descendant of a servant. In so doing, Aku-nna dangers everything, possibly even their existence.
