Notes

...citation a quotation from an authoritative source
keyword a significant word of a title or document; it is used as an index to content on the Internet.
paraphrase to rephrase something that someone else has said or written
search engine a computer program that looks for information on the Internet
thesis a statement that someone want to discuss or prove; a thesis statement is the controlling idea of your report.
compare to look for similarities; to show how things or people are the same
contrast to look for differences; to show how things or people are different
foil a character who provides a strong contrast to another character. By using a foil, an author calls attention to the strengths or weaknesses of a character.
protagonist the central character in a narrative literary work, around whom the main conflict revolves. Generally, the author intends for the reader or audience to sympathize with the protagonist.
Relationship Between Ekwefi and Ezinma
The two major female characters in the novel are Ekwefi, Okonkwo’s second wife, and Ezinma, her only child. Ekwefi is considered a cursed woman; after she gave birth to ten children, all but Ezinma died in infancy. According to the beliefs of the clan, Ezinma is an ogbanje, a “wicked” child who continually reenters its mother’s womb only to die again and again. Ezinma thrives, however.

Instead of continuing to feel sorry for herself, Ekwefi devotes her time and energy to Ezinma and finds comfort in their relationship. Ekwefi pampers Ezinma and treats her as though she were a boy. In Igbo society, male children are valued more than female children. Ezinma is smart, lively, and strong. She calls her mother by her name, signifying that they are equals. Their relationship is based on mutual love, respect, and understanding.

Ezinma did not call her mother Nne like all children. She called her by her name, Ekwefi, as her father and other grown-up people did. The relationship between them was not only that of mother and child. There was something in it like the companionship of equals, which was strengthened by such little conspiracies as eating eggs in the bedroom.

Ekwefi’s love for her daughter is so fierce that she defies religious authority when Chielo, the priestess of the Oracle, takes her daughter to the shrine in the middle of the night and forbids Ekwefi to accompany them. Oknokwo supports his wife in this, although it is a break with tradition. The priestess curses Ekwefi, saying:

“How dare you, woman, to go before the mighty Agbala of your own accord? Beware, woman, lest he strike you in his anger. “

It may help you to understand the relationship between Ekwefi and Ezinma if you fill out a character map for each character, using evidence from the text.



To get a more graphic interpretation of the relationships between Ekwefi and Ezinma, as well Ekwefi’s relationships with Chielo and Okonkwo, look at the animation.

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Reading Assignment
For next time, study symbolism in the chapters you have already read in Things Fall Apart.