Read a comprehensive online summary and analysis of “Second Class Citizen” by Buchi Emecheta for NECO, Literature students. The book covers chapter summaries, background information, plot details, major events, settings, themes, and a summary and analysis of major characters.
About The Author
Buchi Emecheta, born on July 21, 1944, in Lagos, Nigeria, and passed away on January 25, 2017, in London, England, was an Igbo writer. Her novels predominantly address the challenging and unequal status of women in immigrant and African societies, delving into the conflict between tradition and modernity.
She married at 16 and, in 1962, emigrated with her husband from Nigeria to London. Emecheta commenced writing, drawing inspiration from her life experiences, including the difficulties she faced upon her initial arrival in England.
Buchi Emecheta’s early works, initially published in New Statesman magazine, were later compiled into the novel “In the Ditch” (1972). This was succeeded by “Second-Class Citizen” (1974), both of which are part of the single volume “Adah’s Story” (1983). These works establish Emecheta’s key themes: the pursuit of equal treatment, self-confidence, and dignity as a woman.
A departure in style is seen in Emecheta’s novel “Gwendolen” (1989; also known as “The Family”), which delves into the challenges of immigrant life in Great Britain. This theme is further explored in “Kehinde” (1994) and “The New Tribe” (2000).
Background Study
“Second Class Citizen” is a 1974 novel by Nigerian writer Buchi Emecheta. Published in London by Allison and Busby and later in the US by George Braziller in 1975, the poignant story depicts a resourceful Nigerian woman overcoming tribal oppression to establish an independent life for herself and her children. Semi-autobiographical, the novel closely mirrors Emecheta’s own journey from Nigeria to London as an author.
The PLOT SUMMARY
Adah Ofili, born during World War II in Lagos, Nigeria, faces challenges due to gender bias against education. Despite societal resistance, she pushes herself into school with the support of a neighbor. Facing various hardships, including mistreatment by her uncle’s family, she perseveres and secures a job at the British embassy.
Her marriage to Francis brings new struggles. Despite becoming the family’s primary provider, Adah faces abuse and neglect from her husband. The family’s move to the UK doesn’t bring the expected peace. Francis, feeling inferior, becomes abusive, culminating in the destruction of Adah’s manuscripts. This cruel act prompts her to leave the marriage, taking only her children and unborn fifth child.
Settings
The story unfolds in both Lagos and London, providing distinct physical settings for the novel.
Themes
Loveless Union
In Emecheta’s ‘Second-Class Citizen,’ the marriage between Adah and Francis lacks genuine love. Adah, marrying at a young age, sees it as an opportunity for shelter and studies. The union begins on an uncertain note, lacking essentials like a wedding ring, with Francis more interested in Adah’s contributions. Their numerous differences indicate a loveless marriage.
Feminist Struggle
The novel ‘Second-Class Citizen’ revolves around the feminist journey of the protagonist, Adah. Focused on securing more freedom and better treatment for females in a male-dominated society, Adah questions societal assumptions about women. Instances like the neglect of Adah’s birth because of gender expectations highlight the prioritization of male children.
Adah faces discouragement from pursuing education, while her brother is encouraged. Forced to consider older suitors, Adah insists on marrying Francis, asserting her independence. Her resilience is evident as she leaves her marriage and secures an apartment for herself and her children.
The Concept of a Second-Class citizen
Initially in the novel, the concept of a second-class citizen primarily applies to females in Nigerian society. Adah faces gender-based denigration, evident in her birth being considered a disappointment due to societal preference for male children. She encounters obstacles in pursuing education, facing punishment for challenging her second-class status.
As the story shifts to England, the notion of second-class citizenship extends beyond gender to include race and origin. Francis exhibits racial consciousness, accepting inequality as a reality. He reminds Adah of her second-class status when she aspires to write, ultimately leading to the destruction of her manuscript and the end of their relationship.
Racism and Prejudice
“Second-Class Citizen” vividly portrays racism as a formidable obstacle for Adah in her pursuit of dreams. The novel highlights blatant discrimination against Black people in London, notably in housing where the prevalent phrase “Sorry, no colored’s” is a common sight. Adah and Francis personally experience racial bias while seeking accommodation, facing rejection based on their race.
Even within the Nigerian immigrant community in London, the story depicts prejudice between Yoruba and Ibo people, reflecting stereotypical views and suspicions. Adah must conceal her identity to secure housing from a Yoruba landlord, underscoring the pervasive impact of racism in various aspects of her life.
The Characters
Adah Obi Nee Ofili: Adah, born in Ibuza to Ma and Pa, defies societal expectations by pursuing education despite challenges. Her determination remains unshaken, even after losing her parents and facing remarriage. Married to Francis in her early twenties, Adah becomes the breadwinner but experiences abuse and frustration. Despite her hard work, love from Francis is lacking. She eventually leaves the marriage after he destroys her manuscript.
Francis Obi: Adah’s husband, married as a teenager, travels to England for studies. Francis, self-conscious and conservative, blames Adah for his failures. He lacks financial contribution, converts Trudy into a mistress, and exhibits traditional gender role views. Francis’s destructive actions, burning Adah’s manuscript and documents, reveal his cruelty.
Minor Characters:
Babalola: An unmarried man from Northern Nigeria, Babalola, on scholarship, experiences a decline in financial status. His connection leads Adah to Trudy, and his life takes a downturn, losing friends and moving to a less affluent area. Babalola develops a romantic relationship with Janet.
Mr. Cole: A Sierra Leonian teacher at Methodist School, Mr. Cole, a real African, aids Adah by taking her home after purchasing food.
Trudy: Introduced by Babalola, Trudy helps mind Adah’s children but faces consequences when her negligence is exposed. She loses her status as an approved child-minder after making false claims about the children’s care. SEE ALSO NECO Literature Recommended Textbooks [Guide for SSCE Candidates 2021-2025]
Likely Asked Neco Exam Questions
Adah encounters Francis Obi, a young accounting student. Believing he will offer protection, support, and love, she agrees to marry him in Lagos.
Emecheta talks about the challenges of attaining independence, highlighting the struggles women and people of color face. Initially set in Nigeria, the narrative unfolds against the backdrop of English colonialism, emphasizing the implicit
ADAH
In “Second Class Citizen,” Adah, the protagonist, is depicted as a determined and intelligent young girl who faces significant challenges to pursue education in Lagos. Initially, she must take unconventional steps, like attending a friendly neighbor’s classroom, before finally gaining formal enrollment in school.
In “Second Class Citizen,” Francis is depicted as a domineering figure over his wife, Adah, despite lacking the means to support the family as the supposed breadwinner. Adah takes on the responsibility of providing for the family, while Francis mainly contributes by consistently impregnating her.
Francis Obi, Adah’s husband
she was just sixteen when she got married
Is Second Class Citizen a drama or prose?
Buchi Emecheta: Known for her simple and informal prose.
The protagonist, an Ibuza woman named Adah, is married to Francis. Described as not conventionally beautiful, she is considered “cranky and ugly” and “all skin and bone.” Despite her bri
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