New Husband - Literary Analysis Essay

Introduction

'New Husband' is a short story written by a Nigerian writer Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. It is a 2003 production that covers a newly married couple in Lagos who have just arrived in New York. "Short stories" highlights the role of short stories as part of literature (55). Adichie utilizes some of the functions of short stories to stress the societal perceptions, traits of their players, and the illusions that most Africans have about life in America. This work seeks to explore 'New Husband' to identify how the author uses her literature to highlight possible perceptions, threats, and illusions of its characters.

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The story starts with Emeka Udenwa, the new husband carrying a suitcase out of a taxi and entering a brownstone building somewhere in the US. Denham applauds on the effectiveness of short stories in revealing the misconceptions of the characters of the work (257). Adichie uses the story to point out illusions of some of the characters. The narrator was full of expectations after learning that she is marrying a US-based Nigerian doctor. Their arrival in the husband's residence disqualifies everything. She encounters an unfurnished, shanty room. She expected to find a classic homestead with a driveway, a wide doorway, and walls with attractive paintings similar to what she watches in movies. The encounter leaves her wondering about the essence of working as a doctor in the US. The new husband excuses himself from his responsibilities due to his lack of an official job. He thinks that after attaining the 'Attending' status, he would have sufficient money that will enable him to afford most of his needs.

The author also highlights on the western idolization by most Africans. Reeves applauds the effectiveness of short stories in promoting the culture of a place (352). The narrator admits that her guardians fueled the marriage because the husband worked as a medical doctor in the US. Udenwa pushes his wife towards adopting American culture. He wants her to select, take an American name, make American foods, and use American terminologies. He even buys her a housekeeping book from which she can read American recipes. These traits indicate the negative side of western idolization.

The work also talks about cohabiting couples. Reeves agrees that having relationships have a role in propagating literature (355-357). When the narrator asks the husband about the issues with her work permit, he admits that his previous relationship with an American woman has a hand in it. He cohabited with the woman to secure a green card, and now after separation, the woman wants to take legal action for more benefits. Nia also admits to having seduced and slept with the husband. Their relationship only lasted for two weeks. Shirley is still cohabiting with the narrator's husband.

The author also takes highlights of liberalism. "Short Stories" highlight on the role of stories in promoting liberalism (Para 5-7). The narrator is reluctant to drop her culture. Udenwa forces her to call her Bell and wants her to pick a name for herself too. The narration indicates her reluctance in and wants to maintain her name, Okafor. She also prefers cooking Nigerian foods and frequently uses Nigerian words to refer to what she misses out in English. When she narrates about the obsession of her Uncle with marrying Udenwa, she mockingly thanks the Aunty for the new pair of shoes. She does not attach much weight to gifts despite learning that they link to the husband. Nia also indicates liberalisms. Despite being non-local in the US, she retained her Tanzania name.

Adichie uses the story to reprimand male chauvinism. This role agrees with Miller's argument of the weight of literature in controlling the effects of culture on future generations (31-40). The husband tells the narrator that her parents lured her into marrying him due to his qualifications. The union materialized by the parents exchanging the narrator's portraits with Udenwa, who agreed to marry the narrator without her consent. When the narrator asks Udenwa about her past affair, he offers unjustifiabel explanation, citing that the woman was only to facilitate him acquire a green card. He shows no guilt. This portrays his negative attitude towards women.

Revees agree that short stories help in comparing the character traits of characters in the narration (354-357). Adichie uses the story to analyze the qualities of Okafor and the husband. She demonstrates the husband's immaturity. The husband is inclined to western culture. He adopts a different tone while talking to his neighbors, and uses a different one while talking to the wife. He wants the wife to learn the American accent, cook American food, and even take American names. He attaches the success of most whites to their culture as opposed to personals efforts. The wife is reserved and wants to maintain her lifestyle. She sarcastically nods to her husband's advice on how to get along with the Americans. She feels disappointed when she learns that Nia kept her Tanzania name while the husband forces her to drop her Nigerian name.

Adichie also uses the story to promote the role of culture in society (Miller, 49). When the narrator learns that her husband had an affair with Nia, she is afraid she cannot leave him due to the cultural ties she shares with him. The narrator also admits that despite having a boyfriend in Nigeria, her Aunty would not confirm them as couples since he was of a different Yoruba, yet they are Igbe. Before Udenwa's union with the narrator, his parents worry that he would marry a foreign woman. They wanted him to marry someone they share ethnicity. This signifies the role of cultural in their society.

"New Husband" refers to the new man taking the narrator as a wife. The title also agrees with the narrator's love-life. She had a boyfriend back in Nigeria, but her union with Udenwa makes her drop the boyfriend. The husband came with new traits. He is mean, dishonest, and harbors misconceptions about life in the US. The husband also indicates positive desires. He desires to get a decent job, buy a decent homestead, and lead a new life with the wife.

Works Cited

Denham, Robert D., editor. "The Social Uses of Literature." Northrop Frye on Literature and Society, 1936-89, vol. 10, University of Toronto Press, 2002, pp. 253-265. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/10.3138/9781442677814.19. Accessed 1 Mar. 2020.

Miller, Wayne Charles. "Cultural Consciousness in a Multi-Cultural Society: The Uses of Literature." MELUS, vol. 8, no. 3, 1981, pp. 29-44. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/467535. Accessed 1 Mar. 2020.

Reeves, Charles Eric. "Deconstruction, Language, Motive: Rortian Pragmatism and the Uses of 'Literature.'" The Journal of Aesthetics and Art Criticism, vol. 44, no. 4, 1986, pp. 351-356. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/429786. Accessed 1 Mar. 2020.

"Short Stories." A Companion to Carmen Martin Gaite, by Catherine O'Leary and Alison Ribeiro De Menezes, NED - New edition ed., Boydell & Brewer, Woodbridge, Suffolk; /stable/10.7722/j.ctt9qdq2b.7. Accessed 1 Mar. 2020.