Conflict in "The Thing Around Your Neck"

          The book The Thing Around Your Neck takes place during a time of political strife in Nigeria. The dictatorship of General Abacha leaves citizens oppressed, powerless and without voice. The conflict between the government and citizens is evidenced by the brutality in some of Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s stories. In Cell One, Nnamabia, the brother of the narrator goes to jail for being involved in a rebellious cult. Nnamabia is disturbed when an old man is brought to jail in place of his son who the authorities cannot find. The treatment of the innocent old man is harsh and resembles the harsh treatment of the citizens by the dictator. 

         In The American Embassy, a woman tries to escape the country after her son is killed because the authorities cannot find her husband. The husband was a journalist who spoke out against the government’s corruption. The dictator and the rest of the authorities try to stomp out anyone who is publicly opposed to the regime. The woman’s young son was killed and she is feeling grief and loss because of his death. She applies for an asylum visa to America but at the embassy she decides to leave during the interview. She feels oppressed by the grief and she is unable to move on. The government has chained her and she is unable to live her life. 

         In A Private Experience, the main character becomes separated from her sister during a political rebellion and hides in a store with a woman who is ethnically and religiously different from herself. The rebellion is very dangerous and chaotic as everyone tries to run and hide. The main character loses her sister and realizes she will probably never see her again. She hides with a woman who is from a very different group of people who are at odds with the main character’s group. The Hausa Muslims and the Igbo Christians are fighting each other but these women are able to become friends while hiding from the deadly rally outside. In this story, the author is showing that conflict does not always have to define people and they can be strong enough to overcome it. The main character and the Muslim woman are able to create a connection and step above the conflict of their ethnic groups and the government.