In the novel Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Ifemelu has, by the end of the novel
experienced growth and maturity. While a person can never have a complete knowledge of
themselves, Ifemelu grows to the point that she has a deep understanding of who she is and can
thus be regarded as a person who has “spun herself fully into being.” This will be shown through the
experiences she has as a teenager in Nigeria at the start of the novel; her early life in America; her
relationships with Curt and Blaine; and fnally the changes she makes on her return to Nigeria at the
end of the novel.
As a young girl in Nigeria, Ifemelu describes her joy as a ‘restless thing’ in her relationship with
Obinze. She lives in a country ‘starved of hope’ but knows that there is no hope of her studying
abroad. Ifemelu has a strong character and is critical of aunty Uju’s lifestyle and relationship with the
general. She is also infuenced by Obinze’s mother who she regards as a strong independent woman
and who she wishes to emulate. Uju provides the opportunity for her to study in America and
although she does not want to leave Obinze, she is desperate to escape the ‘choicelessness’ of
Nigeria and her unhappiness at the university of Nsukka.
When Ifemelu arrives in America everything is “disappointingly mat” in the landscape of her
imagination. It all seems to be superfcial but despite that Ifemelu clings to her vision of the ideal
America. She realises, afer an experience at the university with Cristina Tomas, who views Ifemelu
as “lazy-limbed and drooling,” that she is viewed diferently as an African and to ft in it becomes
necessary to use an American accent as an “act of will” even though it is “a way of being that was
not hers”. Ifemelu begins to move away from her true self by removing her braids for a job interview
afer Uju tells her that they are “unprofessional.” Ifemelu acknowledges that America is centred
around appearances rather than quality and admits that she “was not Black until she came to
America.” She feels desperate to assimilate into American society and Uju’s advice is that she “do
what you have to do if you want to succeed.”
Out of fnancial desperation Ifemelu sleeps with the tennis coach for money and breaks of contact
with Obinze. Shortly thereafer she begins her relationship with “a rich, white guy from Potomac”
named Curt. When she meets Curt, Ifemelu loves “how glorious it was, to be wanted.” With Curt she
becomes “a woman free of knots and cares.” In his company Ifemelu feels “lighter and leaner.”
Because Curt “could, with a few calls, rearrange the world,” Ifemelu is able to get a job and feel a
“sense of contentment.” When she looks in a mirror she sees “someone else.” She feels secure
enough with Curt to cut her hair short and wear it naturally, fnding solidarity with other women on
the website HappilyKinkyNappy.com. Although Ifemelu feels fnancially secure with Curt she realises
that she is not being true to herself and sabotages her relationship by cheating on him. She has
grown enough to know that the love he says he feels for her is not reciprocated in the same way and
that his ‘friendships’ with other women will always make her feel insecure. She is beginning to know
herself and what she wants.
Ifemelu is automatically intrigued by Blaine and fnds herself “thrilled by his interest, graced by bis
intelligence.” She thinks that “he knew about everything” and would “be the perfect father.” Blaine
and Ifemelu have immediate intimacy and in their relationship, “she felt something like relief.”
Although he provides comfort and she is admiring of his intelligence, when Blaine begins to edit
Ifemelu’s blog, she resents that he makes her feel “like his apprentice.” She begins to feel “vaguely
lost” in his company and as if their relationship is “like being content in a house but always sitng by
the window and looking out.” Once Ifemelu has almost completed her fellowship at Princeton, she
comes to the conclusion that “Blaine needed what she was unable to give, and she needed what he
experienced growth and maturity. While a person can never have a complete knowledge of
themselves, Ifemelu grows to the point that she has a deep understanding of who she is and can
thus be regarded as a person who has “spun herself fully into being.” This will be shown through the
experiences she has as a teenager in Nigeria at the start of the novel; her early life in America; her
relationships with Curt and Blaine; and fnally the changes she makes on her return to Nigeria at the
end of the novel.
As a young girl in Nigeria, Ifemelu describes her joy as a ‘restless thing’ in her relationship with
Obinze. She lives in a country ‘starved of hope’ but knows that there is no hope of her studying
abroad. Ifemelu has a strong character and is critical of aunty Uju’s lifestyle and relationship with the
general. She is also infuenced by Obinze’s mother who she regards as a strong independent woman
and who she wishes to emulate. Uju provides the opportunity for her to study in America and
although she does not want to leave Obinze, she is desperate to escape the ‘choicelessness’ of
Nigeria and her unhappiness at the university of Nsukka.
When Ifemelu arrives in America everything is “disappointingly mat” in the landscape of her
imagination. It all seems to be superfcial but despite that Ifemelu clings to her vision of the ideal
America. She realises, afer an experience at the university with Cristina Tomas, who views Ifemelu
as “lazy-limbed and drooling,” that she is viewed diferently as an African and to ft in it becomes
necessary to use an American accent as an “act of will” even though it is “a way of being that was
not hers”. Ifemelu begins to move away from her true self by removing her braids for a job interview
afer Uju tells her that they are “unprofessional.” Ifemelu acknowledges that America is centred
around appearances rather than quality and admits that she “was not Black until she came to
America.” She feels desperate to assimilate into American society and Uju’s advice is that she “do
what you have to do if you want to succeed.”
Out of fnancial desperation Ifemelu sleeps with the tennis coach for money and breaks of contact
with Obinze. Shortly thereafer she begins her relationship with “a rich, white guy from Potomac”
named Curt. When she meets Curt, Ifemelu loves “how glorious it was, to be wanted.” With Curt she
becomes “a woman free of knots and cares.” In his company Ifemelu feels “lighter and leaner.”
Because Curt “could, with a few calls, rearrange the world,” Ifemelu is able to get a job and feel a
“sense of contentment.” When she looks in a mirror she sees “someone else.” She feels secure
enough with Curt to cut her hair short and wear it naturally, fnding solidarity with other women on
the website HappilyKinkyNappy.com. Although Ifemelu feels fnancially secure with Curt she realises
that she is not being true to herself and sabotages her relationship by cheating on him. She has
grown enough to know that the love he says he feels for her is not reciprocated in the same way and
that his ‘friendships’ with other women will always make her feel insecure. She is beginning to know
herself and what she wants.
Ifemelu is automatically intrigued by Blaine and fnds herself “thrilled by his interest, graced by bis
intelligence.” She thinks that “he knew about everything” and would “be the perfect father.” Blaine
and Ifemelu have immediate intimacy and in their relationship, “she felt something like relief.”
Although he provides comfort and she is admiring of his intelligence, when Blaine begins to edit
Ifemelu’s blog, she resents that he makes her feel “like his apprentice.” She begins to feel “vaguely
lost” in his company and as if their relationship is “like being content in a house but always sitng by
the window and looking out.” Once Ifemelu has almost completed her fellowship at Princeton, she
comes to the conclusion that “Blaine needed what she was unable to give, and she needed what he
