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In this post, we will explore one of the short stories from Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s acclaimed collection The Thing Around Your Neck. The story, Arrangers of Marriage, reveals how marriage can sometimes be about arrangement and control rather than love and choice. The protagonist, Chinaza, arrives in America full of hope but soon finds herself in a marriage where she has little say. This story highlights themes of culture shock, loss of identity, and the challenges many African women face as they strive to adapt to a new life while maintaining their true selves. Let’s take a closer look at Chinaza’s experience and the lessons it offers.

Chinaza's imaginings suggest that she had a specific idea of what her life in America would look like: a beautiful house, nice furniture, and a kitchen in which she could cook with her Nigerian ingredients. The confiscation of her African foodstuffs is her first introduction to the idea that America is not as welcoming as it’s sometimes perceived to be.

Even though Chinaza and Ofodile have only been married for less than a month, Chinaza already dreads being intimate with him. She's already disillusioned and unhappy with him, like so many of the other women in the book.

While Chinaza is fully aware that she doesn't like having sex with her husband, it never crosses her mind to say no to him. This suggests that she doesn't feel in control of her own life or body, and further, that unwanted, uncomfortable sex like this is to be expected.

For Chinaza's aunt and uncle, arranging this marriage was seen as a gift to her and a good deed on their part. This also shows where Chinaza learned that her feelings don't matter. She didn't feel like she could say that she'd rather go to school than get married.

Ofodile shows that he's extremely concerned with successfully performing American-ness by correcting Chinaza's language. This suggests that assimilation is Ofodile's primary goal—he’s trying to be a “model minority” and avoid being discriminated against by entirely blending in and rejecting his own culture.

By telling Chinaza these things, Ofodile shows that he doesn't just value assimilation, he actively devalues maintaining contact with Nigerian culture. He also insists, as many husbands in the collection do, that his wife ignores her own needs to cater to his.

 Again, Chinaza shows that she had ideas about America and American success that she's now realised weren't true. This is indicative of the nature of the American dream; throughout the book, the American dream relies on idealised visions like this to draw immigrants in but soon reveals that those idealized visions are entirely fictional. Ofodile shows here that he doesn't much care for Chinaza's comfort or desires.

Chinaza seems to see nothing wrong with the woman speaking Spanish. The woman likely represents a life that's connected to her home country, which Ofodile actively denies to Chinaza.

Ofodile continues to insist that Chinaza assimilate, refusing to take into consideration that she's experiencing major culture shock. In particular, she feels threatened by Ofodile's desire to eat American food. It makes him look and seem unfamiliar, which suggests again that Chinaza draws comfort from culinary traditions.

Ofodile now denies Chinaza the opportunity to connect to her culture even in the comfort (and supposed safety) of her own home by insisting she speak English and cook American food. However, the fact that Chinaza goes along with Ofodile's wishes demonstrates her lack of power in their relationship, as she has no means with which to stand up for herself.

Chinaza is in awe at the choices that are available to native-born Americans. They have the privilege to choose whether to associate with Africa or not, while Ofodile denies Chinaza the opportunity to make that choice. Though this discussion about Africa allows Nia and Chinaza to connect, it also suggests that Nia romanticises Africa in a way she can only because of her status as a native-born American.

Chinaza's friendship with Nia is the one thing in her life right now that she chooses to do despite the wishes of her husband, aunt, or uncle. Nia provides her a sense of community and family that she's not getting anywhere else.

Ofodile's admission raises the question of whether Chinaza's aunt and uncle knew about his American marriage when they arranged Chinaza's marriage. It's possible that they were even overly caught up in the idealised American dream, and this oversight or purposeful omission came as a result of that. Ofodile asserts his power by refusing to acknowledge that he's betrayed his wife's trust.

Though Ofodile has shown throughout the story that he doesn't place much value on Nigerian culture, it evidently means something to him to have a Nigerian wife. However, it suggests more than anything that he views Chinaza as an object to show off and something that will benefit him alone.

Again, Chinaza's aunt and uncle see the fact that they arranged this marriage for her as a generous gift that Chinaza would be stupid to refuse. Nia is the only person that Chinaza can trust at this point; she's the only one who encourages Chinaza to make her own decisions.

Like many of the other husbands in the book, Ofodile has had a number of girlfriends that he never told his wife about. For Ofodile, however, it's unclear if these girlfriends afforded him status or were simply illicit affairs.

Despite Chinaza's disillusionment with the American dream, Nia remains steadfast that it's still available for Chinaza. She suggests that Chinaza do to Ofodile what Ofodile did to her, and in the process, gain her independence.

Chinaza’s journey in Arrangers of Marriage is not just about migration—it’s about losing and finding oneself. The story challenges us to think deeply about choice, control, and what true partnership should look like. Sometimes the biggest betrayals come wrapped as 'blessings'. And sometimes, the strongest resistance begins with simply saying your name aloud again.