Buchi Emecheta’s Second Class Citizen is a powerful narrative that explores the lives of women, particularly in the context of the African experience in the diaspora. Through the lens of the main character, Adah, the novel delves into themes of gender, race, class, and self-determination. The characters in Second Class Citizen are carefully crafted to reflect the complex social, cultural, and political dynamics that influence their lives. In this article, we provide a comprehensive analysis of the major and minor characters in the book, exploring how they contribute to the novel’s themes and overall message.
Overview of the Book
Second Class Citizen tells the story of Adah, a young Nigerian woman who moves to London with her husband, Francis, in pursuit of a better life. The book follows Adah’s struggles with racial prejudice, gender inequality, and the challenges of maintaining her identity as a Nigerian woman in a foreign land. Through the characters, Emecheta explores how social and cultural pressures impact individual aspirations, relationships, and personal growth.
Major Characters in Second Class Citizen
1. Adah
- Role in the Novel: Adah is the protagonist, and her journey is central to the novel. She represents the struggle of a woman seeking to break free from societal limitations and expectations.
- Character Traits: Adah is intelligent, resilient, and determined. Despite being constrained by the roles imposed on her as a woman in a patriarchal society, she strives for independence and self-empowerment. Throughout the novel, her inner strength is evident as she faces challenges ranging from cultural alienation to domestic abuse.
- Development: Adah’s character undergoes significant growth as she learns to assert her autonomy and overcome the obstacles in her path. She transforms from a naive and dependent woman into one who takes control of her destiny, becoming a symbol of perseverance and resilience.
2. Francis
- Role in the Novel: Francis is Adah’s husband, and his role in the narrative is crucial as he represents the traditional Nigerian male’s view of marriage and gender roles. His behavior contrasts with Adah’s evolving sense of self-worth and independence.
- Character Traits: Francis is authoritative, domineering, and traditional in his expectations of women. He often fails to understand Adah’s aspirations, and his oppressive attitude becomes a source of tension in their marriage. His behavior highlights the gender inequality that Adah faces, both in her marriage and in society at large.
- Development: While Francis’s character remains largely static in the novel, his actions push Adah to reflect on her own strength and the importance of standing up for her rights. His neglect and emotional abuse serve as catalysts for Adah’s journey toward self-empowerment.
3. Blossom
- Role in the Novel: Blossom is one of Adah’s children. Though her role is smaller compared to the others, she symbolizes the generational transition and the ways in which children absorb and respond to their parents’ struggles.
- Character Traits: Blossom is curious, perceptive, and sensitive. She experiences her own form of alienation as she navigates the intersection of her Nigerian heritage and her British upbringing.
- Development: Blossom’s character serves as a reflection of Adah’s evolving sense of motherhood and the desire to provide a better future for her children, despite the challenges they face as immigrants in a foreign land.
4. Mrs. Okonkwo
- Role in the Novel: Mrs. Okonkwo is a close acquaintance of Adah. She serves as a mentor figure to Adah, offering advice and guidance in times of emotional turmoil.
- Character Traits: Mrs. Okonkwo is strong-willed, compassionate, and practical. She understands the struggles Adah faces and offers support, helping her navigate the difficulties of life in London.
- Development: Mrs. Okonkwo’s character is largely supportive, offering wisdom that aids Adah’s personal growth. Her perspective on marriage, family, and cultural identity plays a significant role in helping Adah regain her sense of purpose and agency.
5. Auntie
- Role in the Novel: Auntie is another secondary character who is part of Adah’s broader network of family and friends. She represents the traditional Nigerian view of a woman’s role in society and family.
- Character Traits: Auntie is practical, supportive, and concerned with maintaining cultural norms. However, her views are sometimes at odds with Adah’s growing sense of independence and desire to challenge traditional gender roles.
- Development: Auntie’s character provides insight into the generational divide between those who adhere to traditional values and those like Adah who seek to carve their own path.
Minor Characters in Second Class Citizen
6. The Landlady
- Role in the Novel: The landlady is a minor character, but her role in the story reflects the racial prejudices that Adah faces in London. She represents the social divides that immigrants encounter in a foreign society.
- Character Traits: The landlady is distant, unfriendly, and prejudiced. Her discriminatory attitude serves as a reminder of the racial barriers that Adah must overcome in her pursuit of a better life.
- Development: The landlady’s role highlights the challenges that Adah faces as a Nigerian woman in London, offering a stark contrast to the support and camaraderie Adah seeks in her relationships.
7. The Doctor
- Role in the Novel: The doctor represents the British establishment’s often indifferent attitude toward the struggles of immigrants.
- Character Traits: The doctor is detached and unemotional, providing a clinical response to Adah’s personal struggles without offering any empathy or understanding.
- Development: The doctor’s character underscores the systemic alienation Adah experiences in the medical and social systems in London, reinforcing the theme of isolation that runs throughout the novel.
Themes Explored Through Characters
The characters in Second Class Citizen embody the novel’s exploration of themes such as racial prejudice, gender inequality, self-empowerment, and the immigrant experience. Adah’s struggles with Francis, her journey toward self-assertion, and the various relationships she forms with other characters provide a window into the complex social dynamics at play. Emecheta uses her characters to comment on the larger societal issues that shape the lives of women and immigrants, particularly in the context of British colonial history.
Class Activities for Second Class Citizen
- Character Exploration
- Divide students into groups, each focusing on a different character from the novel. Each group will present a deep analysis of their character’s motivations, relationships, and development throughout the book.
- Role-Playing Exercise
- Students will act out a key scene from the book, such as a confrontation between Adah and Francis. This will help students understand the emotional complexities of the characters and the underlying themes of power dynamics and resistance.
- Debate on Gender Roles
- Organize a class debate on the theme of gender roles as portrayed in the novel. One side will argue that Adah’s journey is a reflection of the changing role of women, while the other side will focus on the traditional expectations that limit women’s agency.
- Cultural Comparison
- Ask students to compare the Nigerian cultural norms Adah encounters with those of the British society she moves to. This activity will highlight the cultural clashes that Adah faces and help students explore themes of identity and assimilation.
- Story Mapping
- Have students create a story map that outlines Adah’s emotional journey throughout the novel. They should highlight the key moments of personal growth and conflict that define her transformation.
Class Assignments for Second Class Citizen
- Character Analysis Essay
- Students will write an essay that analyzes one of the main characters, discussing their development and the impact of their decisions on the plot and themes of the novel.
- Social and Cultural Context Essay
- Ask students to write an essay that examines the social and cultural context of the novel, particularly focusing on the immigrant experience and the racial prejudice faced by Adah.
- Personal Reflection Journal
- Have students maintain a journal where they reflect on how the themes of the novel resonate with their own experiences or observations about gender, race, and identity in society.
- Comparative Analysis with Other African Writers
- Ask students to compare Second Class Citizen with another novel by an African author that deals with similar themes of identity and self-empowerment, such as Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s Americanah.
- Rewrite a Key Scene
- Students will choose a pivotal scene from the novel and rewrite it with an alternative outcome. This exercise will allow them to explore how changing key decisions would alter the trajectory of the characters’ lives.
- Examining Immigration and Identity
- Write a research paper examining how the theme of immigration and identity is represented in Second Class Citizen. Discuss how Adah’s struggles with identity resonate with contemporary immigrant experiences in Western societies.
- Analyzing the Role of Marriage
- Students will analyze the role of marriage in the book, particularly focusing on Adah’s relationship with Francis. Write a 2-3 page paper discussing how marriage is portrayed as both a source of oppression and personal growth for Adah.
