The Thing Around Your Neck

by

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Nkem Character Analysis

In "Imitation," Nkem is a Nigerian woman living in Philadelphia with her children and her housegirl, Amaechi. Her husband, Obiora, is a “Big Man” in Nigeria. When Nkem and Obiora first got married, Nkem was so thrilled to marry him that she never questioned him or advocated for anything she wanted, and she continues to do this throughout their marriage. She begins to find her voice when she learns that Obiora has a girlfriend living in their home in Lagos, though she realizes she's always known that Obiora has lovers. She loves the optimism of America and wants her children to grow up not knowing the poverty that she experienced as a child in Nigeria.

Nkem Quotes in The Thing Around Your Neck

The The Thing Around Your Neck quotes below are all either spoken by Nkem or refer to Nkem. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
Women, Marriage, and Gender Roles Theme Icon
).
Imitation Quotes

And although Nkem knew many Nigerian couples who lived together, all year, she said nothing.

Related Characters: Nkem, Obiora
Page Number: 25
Explanation and Analysis:

"You got a great house, ma'am," he'd said, with that curious American smile that meant he believed he, too, could have something like it someday. It is one of the things she has come to love about America, the abundance of unreasonable hope.

Related Characters: Nkem
Related Symbols: Cars
Page Number: 26
Explanation and Analysis:

...America does not recognize Big Men. Nobody says "Sir! Sir!" to them in America. Nobody rushes to dust their seats before they sit down.

Related Characters: Nkem
Page Number: 29
Explanation and Analysis:
Get the entire The Thing Around Your Neck LitChart as a printable PDF.
The Thing Around Your Neck PDF

Nkem Quotes in The Thing Around Your Neck

The The Thing Around Your Neck quotes below are all either spoken by Nkem or refer to Nkem. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
Women, Marriage, and Gender Roles Theme Icon
).
Imitation Quotes

And although Nkem knew many Nigerian couples who lived together, all year, she said nothing.

Related Characters: Nkem, Obiora
Page Number: 25
Explanation and Analysis:

"You got a great house, ma'am," he'd said, with that curious American smile that meant he believed he, too, could have something like it someday. It is one of the things she has come to love about America, the abundance of unreasonable hope.

Related Characters: Nkem
Related Symbols: Cars
Page Number: 26
Explanation and Analysis:

...America does not recognize Big Men. Nobody says "Sir! Sir!" to them in America. Nobody rushes to dust their seats before they sit down.

Related Characters: Nkem
Page Number: 29
Explanation and Analysis: