Previous
Chapter 16
Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in The Girl with the Louding Voice, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Education, Empowerment, and Self-Worth
Gender Inequality and Solidarity
Wealth, Poverty, and Choice
Survival
Summary
Analysis
Adunni boards a motorcycle at the bus garage and asks the driver to go to Papa’s house. Adunni arrives and, in tears, tells Papa about Khadija’s death, pregnancy, curse, and relationship with Bamidele. Distraught, Papa asks if anyone saw Adunni when Khadija died. Adunni knows that everyone saw her and fears for her life if she is accused of killing Khadija. Papa tells Adunni to wait in her room; he is going to tell Morufu, the village chief, and Khadija’s people everything that happened. He tells Adunni not to be afraid—nobody will kill her if he is still alive.
Adunni wants to believe that Papa is concerned for his daughter’s life, but a more cynical reading of Papa’s actions is that he’s really worried about what will happen to him if he stops receiving Adunni’s bride-price. The fact that Adunni needs a man to vouch for her illustrates the culture’s negative view of women—Adunni’s insistence that she is not responsible for Khadija’s death seems to count less because she’s a young girl. Also, the strength of Khadija and Adunni’s relationship seems irrelevant and unimportant to the public, who would rather believe that Khadija and Adunni were enemies fighting for their husband’s attention.
Themes
Adunni waits anxiously in her room for Papa to return. She pulls back the curtains to see if anyone is outside, but the compound is empty. The sun begins to set. Adunni ponders running away—after all, Papa didn’t keep his earlier promises, so why should she believe that he will protect her now? She packs her few belongings in a small black bag, including Mama’s Yoruba Bible, and prays to God for help. As she packs, she spots Kayus’s pillow in the corner of the room and wonders if she will ever see him again.
Given how Papa broke his promise to Mama and Bamidele broke his promise to Khadija, Adunni is skeptical of Papa’s promise to help her now. Adunni puts her faith in Mama because she’s one of the few people Adunni has been able to rely on. Adunni’s decision to take Mama’s Yoruba Bible with her when she runs away illustrates the value Adunni places on maintaining hope and faith.
Themes
Adunni picks up the lantern and takes out the 1,000 naira she hid there before her wedding. She leaves some behind for Kayus and takes the rest. She hears Born-boy entering the compound and goes outside to meet him, bag in hand. Born-boy is surprised to see her. Adunni lies about why she is there, pretending that Morufu sent her to bring the family money. Born-boy reiterates what a good man Morufu is. Adunni lies to Born-boy again, telling him that she is going back to Morufu’s house. After the siblings say goodbye, Born-boy goes into the house, and Adunni runs away.
Unlike Kayus, who supports Adunni and sympathizes with the hardships she faces, Born-boy minimizes Adunni’s plight when he calls Morufu a good man. He doesn’t understand or take issue with the injustice of Adunni being forced to become a child bride. Born-boy’s compliment follows Adunni’s lie that Morufu sent her home to deliver money to the family, which suggests that Born-boy’s admiration for Morufu is based on how Morufu benefits him and not on Adunni’s experience with Morufu.
Themes
