Literature & Language Essay: Alienation in New Husband by Adichie Chimamanda Ngozi

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Alienation in New Husband by Adichie Chimamanda Ngozi
Alienation refers to separating a person from essential aspects of life in the external world, coupled with feeling powerless and in no control (Hassouna, 185). It is a scenario where a person feels detached from his or her feelings and the outside world. It, therefore, means that alienation comes in different ways. The theme of alienation is widespread in the short story New Husband by Adichie Chimamanda Ngozi. The protagonist, Chika, is alienated in many ways. The forms of alienation she faces also informs the meaning of the story as a whole.
Chika is alienated from deciding on what she wants in life. Throughout the story, Chika is portrayed as not having the privilege to choose what she wants. Instead, her aunt and uncle dictate what she should do and what is right for her. The aunt and uncle arranged the marriage for Chika without giving her full details. The marriage came at a time when Chika was supposed to further her studies in the university, yet she could not say no to it. "I did not remind him that I wanted to try for the University, that I had worked hard in Aunty Ify's bakery while going to secondary school" (Adichie, 55). It shows that Chika had no voice of her own, and hence she accepted anything that was given to her.
Cultural alienation is evident in the story. Chika and her husband, Ofodile, moved to America after the wedding. Chika thought she would have the best of life in America living in a house where she could cook her Nigerian dishes at peace. Ofodile tells her, "I don't want you cooking things from home anymore" (Adichie, 55). He was warning his wife, Chika, to leave the culture that she grew up knowing and adopt a foreign culture. It is a form of alienation, considering that Chika is not very comfortable with American food. She finds pride in cooking Nigerian meals.
Ofodile is also alienated from his Nigerian culture. He is so much into the American culture that he changed his name to Dave (Adichie, 56). Other people might be wishing they were connected to their cultures because that is what defines them. But for Ofodile, he does not want to be associated with his Nigerian culture. He might have a genuine reason for avoiding discrimination, but that would not be enough to make him practice Western culture even when he is in his private house. He also prefers American food and disregards ...