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Chapter 46
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
The group drives home in silence, though Adunni has many things that she wants to know, such as why the doctor didn’t also receive a beating. “If it takes two people to make a baby,” she wonders, why is it only the woman who is punished when there is no baby? She wonders why Nigerian women suffer so much more than Nigerian men. Doctor mama continues to apologize, insisting that she had no idea the bath would be so brutal. Although she wanted to stop the women, she didn’t take action because she was thinking about the baby that the bath might bring. Ms. Tia stares out the window, refusing to answer doctor mama.
Adunni thinks of the violence Ms. Tia incurs as an example of gender double standards, which she sees as a widespread problem in Nigeria. This is yet another example of how Adunni’s education is helping her contextualize people and situations in her life within broader social issues. Doctor mama’s apology isn’t all that satisfying: she seems remorseful that Ms. Tia had to suffer but ultimately excuses the ritual on the grounds that it will be worth it if Ms. Tia can become pregnant.
Themes
Everything is quiet when Adunni returns to the house that evening. She runs to the kitchen and sees Kofi, who demands to know where she has been. Kofi explains that Big Madam’s sister, Kemi, has been in an accident, and that Big Madam went to be with her at the hospital. He berates Big Daddy for watching TV in the living room, demanding cupcakes, and refusing to help his wife.
Big Daddy’s disrespect for his wife extends beyond infidelity and physical abuse: he’s also physically and emotionally absent during times of crisis. Big Daddy has no obligations of his own and can support his wife and her sister at the hospital; he simply chooses not to care.
Themes
Kofi starts to show Adunni pictures of the house he is building in Kumasi but stops when he sees the sad look on Adunni’s face. Adunni doesn’t tell him about the bath. Kofi tells Adunni to lie down; he will cover for her if anyone asks where she is. He also mentions that Abu came looking for Adunni. Adunni is still very curious about whatever Abu will have to say about Rebecca, but tonight she doesn’t want to think about anything. She tells Kofi not to send Abu to her room.
Kumasi is a city in southern Ghana. Adunni is too overcome with sadness and confusion after Ms. Tia’s beating to be care about Abu’s information about Rebecca, which reflects how violence and oppression can beat people down to the point that they’re too psychologically drained to advocate for others.
Themes
