The Arrangers of Marriage, an Adichie short tale from 2009, explores the man's lifetime experiences with feelings of insecurity, the potential consequences of alienation, and his overwhelming desire to leave such a dishonest culture. Attachment is proposed by the author as the sole practical remedy for isolation. The narrative depicts a feeling of disappointment and misunderstanding in America. The bride from Nigeria, Chinaza, according to Adichie (2009), departs for America to start a new life with her husband Ofodile, whom her aunt and uncle arranged for her to wed. In America life turns out to be less enchanting when Chinaza comes to terms with various issues about her husband that include his present undertaking in his residency time at the hospital and thus, entitled to a small pay. Besides, Ofodile is overwhelmingly manipulative and egocentric; and he has an intense obsession of integrating into the "American culture." This essay attempts to discuss major themes that feature in the story, through which two differing attitudes of the characters, are presented by Adichie through applying imagery and metaphor of key elements like language and food.
Main Body Theme 1: Belonging: Dave endeavours in life in an attempt to integrate into the American way of life. Dave perceives that to integrate into America is inevitably by only cooking and eating food like them, drink as they do, speak as they do and also apply their words, as well as obliterate any differing cultural aspect. He discerns that being seen as a foreigner by the Americans would result in alienation by the society because they would consider him as an immigrant. At the shopping centre, Chinaza communicates in Igbo, and causes Dave to be anxious and quickly responds. "Speak English there are people behind you" (p. 168). It is evident that Dave's sense of blending into America was through them speaking English and thus, as he believes would make them appear less foreign. Also, Ofodile cautiously remarks about Chinaza's response, "you should say 'Hi' to people here, not 'You're welcome'. I'm not called Ofodile here, by the way. I go by Dave . . ." (p. 172). The association between Dave and America, following his return from Nigeria, articulates a theme of social alienation. According to Hassouna (2016), Dave persists on infiltrating into the culture and society of America, which costs him a lot including forsaking his culture. From Dave's point of view, the superiority of Americans is beyond reach. Furthermore, Ijah (2012), indicated that the increasingly pretentious and thoughtless attributes of Ofodile's character provide an image of a bright and meaningless concept of the whole American culture. "The last name I use here is different too. It's Bell. If you want to get anywhere, you have to be as mainstream as possible . . . (p. 172). In his research, Zimmerman (2007), argues that when migrants continue to resemble natives, the rate of deserting and relinquishing their individual cultures increases. In that connection, Dave became a victim of marginalisation, and thus considerably, detached himself from his local culture of origin. Besides, by the fact that Dave married an American woman to acquire a Green-Card, and kept it a secret even to Chinaza, proves the complete isolation of Dave from his Nigerian culture (Hassouna, 2016).
Theme 2. Relationship and Marriage This theme focuses on Dave and Agatha's relationship. It was after Dave receiving a Green-Card that he considered marrying a Nigerian woman and relocate with her to the United States. Chinaza finally agrees to marry Dave who is as a result of the constant persuasion from her uncle and aunt, who described Dave's life in America. "A doctor in America! It is like we won a lottery for you" (p. 170). Without many options, Chinaza found it wise to accept the marriage, so as to enable her to overcome poverty life. However, disappointment emerges, and causes all of her dreams to melt away. In her realization, the husband that she was informed that was a doctor, was, in reality, a resident and thus, only earned a meagre income. This theme was also illustrated through Chinaza's discovery of the actual individual character and self-centeredness of Dave, who neglected to honour all her needs. Dave forces Chinaza to adopt an English name, which is Agatha, and she is not pleased. "My English name is just something on my Birth Certificate. I have been Chinaza Okafor my whole life" (175). Also, Dave seemed too coarse Chinaza into slowly accepting the American life and consequently, forsake her cultural roots. He remarks the importance of using words like "cookies" and not "biscuits". "American don't drink their tea with milk and sugar" (p.172). Furthermore, the disappointment in marriage is a major theme featuring in the story, and it constitutes two issues according to Ijah (2014). There is the component of insecurity, uncaring and treachery strategy of the arrangers of marriage as well as the complete illusion and pretense of America, and the most deceitful characteristic of Ofodile's attributes (p. 17). Dave's actions of oppression were evident indoors, and this came to as a huge dismay to Chinaza, whereby, she was not supposed to cook Nigerian dishes to avoid the smell being detected by neighbors. Apparently, she was like a puppet for Dave that he would toss around and about in house chores and movement, regardless of her needs and feelings. The atmosphere is not very welcoming to Chinaza in the company of her husband such that even when the neighbor expresses admiration of the food, Dave, however, was upset to be recognized as the not Americans. Besides, messing his life, Dave also wreck the chain of love and faithfulness with his wife. This comes about when Chinaza learns that Nia has slept with him. Her feelings got betrayed from security to trust reasons.
Theme 3. Food and language as a metaphor for adaptation Diet and expression are fundamental in the analysis of the theme on adaptation. It is because of the cultural symbols that are easily noticeable by everybody. Soon after the arrival, Chinaza got introduced into language lessons of words that are 'fit' for the American society. For example, "cookies "and not "biscuits" (174), and "an elevator" in substitute for "lift" (p. 55-57). Similarly, in the event when Chinaza has made some delicacy food, Dave, on the other hand, becomes paranoid of the treat diet and smell, that attracts the attention of others. Apparently, the sweet smell eventually permeates the entire block and hence, attracts someone. "It feels excellent . . ." (p. 176). The food's theme including culinary skills are comprised of significant aspects of the cultural baggage of another person as well as distinguish between similar broadened cultural issues. According to Ijah (2012), language depicts a situation that is pressing in the entire story. For instance, Ofoduile's unending assertion about Chinaza's failure to talk in what he acknowledged as the proper way, and this enables to understand about Ofodiles character that aimed at representing the awareness of adaptation to the American models. At the mall, Dave's focus increases to the top while walking around the mall, and American-speaking individuals suddenly surround them, and thus Dave tries to hide his obsession as well. Dave refrains from any means of getting the attention and therefore, prevent other people from knowing that, all in all, he remains a disporic subject. Consequently, through Dave's personality, he cannot entirely fit in the society of Americans. Conclusion It is arguably true that Chimamanda Adichie has articulated excellent knowledge of the current Nigerian experiences through her short stories. Various trending issues augment the growth and advancement of Nigeria. Therefore, the story is an illustration of a combination of the types of the genre s offered. According to Adichie (2009), Dave (Ofodile), stands out as the protagonist, and since he was unable to overcome his weaknesses, he has endured a great encounter of self-isolation. However, Chinaza is seen to be healthy and ready to overcome her challenges in America, and she feels it is unacceptable to alienate one's culture, to be able to fit into the society. Therefore, Chinaza redeemed herself to the society, on the contrary, Ofodile's desire and ego to maintain being Americanized, labelled Chinaza as an evil companion who in that trend. Chinaza was able to make friends including the neighbor Nie, who would strengthen her in solidarity. Thus, considerably, Adichie (2009), demonstrated that the hero who was presumably Dave, became a victim of marginalization, while the heroine who was Chinaza managed to accomplish her cooperation and thus, redeemed herself once more.
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References
Adichie, C. N. (2009). "The Arrangers of Marriage." In The Thing around Your Neck. USA: The Granta Book of the African Short Story, pp. 1-218 Adichie, C. N. (2003). "New husband." The Lowa Review, 33(2), pp. 53-66 Ijah, A. (2012). "The short stories of Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie." AFRREV International Journal of Arts and Humanities, 1(4), pp. 13-27 Hassouna, M. M. (2016). "Alienation versus attachment in the short fiction of Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie: Three representative short stories." International Journal of English and Literature and Culture, 4 (9), pp. 184-192 Zimmermann, K. F. (2007). Migrant Ethnic identity: concept and policy implications. The Cyprus Economic Society Annual Lecture in Economics. IZA Discussion Paper No. 3056
