“Aku-nna realized one to she try as well insignificant getting thought to be a blessing.” She is a girl, and a wedding isn’t considered fortunate unless one has actually sons. An effective woman’s value try counted only from the sum of money she might give her father when it comes to a great bride speed.
Bondage and you will Oppression
Bondage was portrayed straightforwardly on reputation from Chike, who is inspired by a keen oshu nearest and dearest, a slave friends. In the event their granny got a beneficial little princess for the a surrounding town, she try kidnapped and you may enslaved. Following Europeans stumbled on Nigeria, bondage turned into illegal. New freed slaves have been provided for missionary universities where they were experienced. Whilst the freed submissives in addition to their descendants ultimately gained high professional salaries and you can had big European-build residential property, they were never ever recognized for the village. A father choose to eliminate his child than just possess their get married a keen oshu.
Emecheta uses the motif off thraldom, not, not just in terms of the fresh oshu. She plus depicts lady, in a way, while the submissives so you’re able to guys. A lady is paid for and you will sold through the fiance rate. She actually is considered, by the lady the fresh new customers, such as for instance a servant trader may look at their the fresh new servant. This lady body gets a commodity that provide wide range for the members of the family in the form of of many students. Once are kidnapped, Okoboshi’s dad “poured chalk, the newest icon from virility, for her boobs and you can prayed so you can his ancestors that Aku-nna can use it to feed the numerous people she try planning has actually having his child.”
Defiance and you may Opposition
Defiance of one’s rigorous legislation out-of neighborhood increases slow contained in this book from the profile away from Aku-nna. You are looking at this lady in brief measures and you can bolts of this lady inside suits away from fear otherwise pity. Basic, out of worry she talks their brain and very extremely declines to just accept a ride into the a bicycle. Second, out-of embarrassment she does not want to cut off their gowns and you may shower publicly. Little-by-little, she builds the lady opposition up to she finds out herself working in a relationship that have Chike, brand new descendent of slaves, a relationship that is purely forbidden. Because of the promising this relationship, Aku-nna defies this lady mommy and her stepfather, while the public regulations out-of their entire culture. But though she encourages the partnership, the lady defiance try inactive, since if the connection was broadening on its own which have Aku-nna marking collectively behind it. She movements closer to Chike almost involuntarily 
Due to the fact facts makes in order to an orgasm, very really does Aku-nna’s bravery build. Their bravery, consequently, makes the woman defiance. Immediately following Aku-nna’s times has been common knowledge, she refuses “point-blank” to eat brand new chicken which was slaughtered inside her prize. Up to now on the story, Aku-nna records what really well might have been this lady basic defiant believe. “She try begin to believe that it had been unfair that she was not to-be enjoy a state within her lifetime, and you may she was begin to dislike the lady mother to be very inactive about this every.” Their mother’s passivity appears to awaken Aku-nna’s defiance, and you will from this stage throughout the facts, Aku-nna moves to your the fresh new climatic scene.
Since the she really stands facing Okoboshi, the young child that has kidnapped their since the a prospective bride to be, Aku-nna loudly and you will forcefully speaks call at a try to help save herself. It’s away from concern about not only getting raped but also to be deprived regarding actually watching Chike once more one to she discovers this lady voice and creates a narrative thus vile you to Okoboshi renders her by yourself. The fresh vile story one to she produces is actually a lie, nevertheless sit represents the fresh epitome off their defiance. She informs Okoboshi one to she actually is maybe not an effective virgin; and, additionally, she missing the girl virginity so you’re able to an excellent descendant out-of a slave. In so doing, Aku-nna threats everything, maybe even her existence.