I find it interesting that this novel almost immediately begins with one of the protagonists, Ifemelu, watching people. While it is rather mundane activity, it becomes a recurring theme of the first two chapters. On page 4, Ifemelu assumes that the older white man she is next to is professor, for no other reason than his relative location and the way he styles his hair. Additionally, she is on her way get her hair restyled, as a way to change her appearance. In chapter 2 Obinze also seems to have a focus on appearance, mainly in how he is perceived. On page 33 he notes he just had to” drive to a gate in his BMW and the gate-man would salute and open it for him, without asking questions.”. Or when he went to America for the first time and the immigration official was confused that he didn’t have much to declare as “Nigerians like you [declare] thousands and thousands of dollars all the time.” (p.33). Why is that this is the case? Why do the characters of this novel have such a fixation on outward appearance? And why are some so surprised when their expectations do not match the person?
One thought on “The Suit Maketh the Man: Americanah’s emphasis on appearance in Chapters 1 and 2”
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I would agree that appearance is a theme that is consistent with a lot of the characters of Americanah, especially because many are Nigerians trying to fit into our American culture.
On p. 215, when Ifemelu gets the compliment from the telemarketer saying “Wow. Cool. You sound totally American.” (p. 215). In the following paragraph, it says that “She had won . . . ” implying that by “sounding” American, she had arrived at where she desired. However, the author goes on to say that ” . . . but her triumph was full of air. Her fleeting victory had left in its wake a vast, echoing space, because she had taken on, for too long, a pitch of voice and a way of being that was not hers. . . she resolved to stop faking the American accent.” (p. 215-216).
Apperance is important to our characters because it is important to us. Appearance is a way you can fit in or be accepted by culture, which is a basic desire of every human. I think appearance and changing her voice is so important to Ifemelu is because that is a way through which she can be accepted by the American culture. We could say that this is a turning point in Ifemelu’s character, where she realizes that she will never be satisfied by doing those things because it is at the cost of just being herself and who she is.