As she begins to doubt whether life is worth living, the other women in the ward seem like they are living happy lives. One woman finally gives birth to a child after 17 years of marriage and cannot stop showing him off.
Another woman, who Adah describes as a “sleek, younger woman” (p. 123), and who sleeps on the bed next to her, has a handsome, much older husband. She is long overdue and the doctors are still deciding whether or not to operate.
The surgeon handling Adah is equally “a handsome, dark man, white, but with that type of skin colouring” possessed by white people after years of living in sunny Africa. He handles the sleek woman’s case too.
He boasts to Adah that none of his patients have died and that she is healing up nicely. After four days, the tube is removed and Adah is able to talk again. She begins to ask the “sleek woman” questions: “How did she come to marry a man as handsome as her husband? What did it feel like, marrying a man who was almost old enough to be your father? How did it feel to be loved and respected as she was, being showered with presents of flowers, funny dolls that made mad music, beautiful boxes … containing all sorts of things?” (p. 124).
The sleek woman explains that she was her husband’s secretary and they got married after his first wife died. She says that she is adopted and her adoptive parents never did love her despite the fact that she really needed to be loved and to love. Her dream finally came true with her husband.
The sleek woman’s husband arrives while Adah is being examined by the surgical team. Adah bursts into tears as she is being examined. The team assumes that it must be “after baby blues” and Adah lets them think so, though she is crying because no one loves her for herself unlike the sleek woman and the woman who had been married for 17 years.
The surgical team leaves and more visitors arrive into the ward to see other women. They come with flowers and gifts. Adah can only be happy for them as she gets no flowers and no gifts.
Adah also notices that she is the only woman with no nightdress. She is still wearing the hospital nightdress. She hopes that Francis would note that and buy her a nightdress. But, she knows that this would not happen. He would complain about the cost and that he has never given his wife a present.
Francis rarely visits on time during visiting hours because of Titi and VIcky. Adah does not care as they do not have much to talk about. Adah suffers embarrassment when a nurse approaches Adah and says: “Mrs Obi, you must tell your husband, when he comes, to bring you your nightdress” (p. 129) because “you are not really meant to wear the hospital gown after your baby has been born” (p. 129).
Francis visits Adah and comes with good news. Francis shows Adah a letter from her boss, which says the library plans to pay for her unused vacation time and that her coworkers have bought her a cardigan.
Adah is glad that she can now afford a nightdress but Francis brings up his plan to use the money to pay for an accountancy course. Outraged by Francis’ self-centredness, Adah asks after Titi and Vicky instead.
Francis informs Adah that her absence has not bothered Titi or Vicky. Adah then asks Francis: “Suppose I had died a few days ago, who would have taken care of them?” Francis answers: “If you are worried about who is going to look after the children, if you had died, well, I’ll tell you this. My mother brought us all up and I don’t see…” (pp. 132-133).
Francis’ response frustrates Adah so much so that she retorts: “If you don’t go out of this ward, or stop talking, I shall throw this milk jug at you. I hate you Francis, and one day I shall leave you” (p. 133).
Adah bursts into tears, wishing her Pa had not died, that she had not needed to marry as a teenager to secure a home, and that her relatives had understood her educational aspirations better.
She resolves to focus all her love on her children and leave Francis as soon as she reasonably can. She resolves not to let Francis mistreat her. She dries her eyes and informs Francis that the hospital says she needs a nightdress.
Adah gets a plain, functional dress two days later. The women in the hospital who had become Adah’s acquaintances gradually go home for Christmas. The sleek woman transfers elsewhere; shortly thereafter, Adah hears that she has died.
On the day she is about to leave the hospital, Adah asks Francis to bring her a lappa with “Nigerian Independence, 1960” printed on it to wear as she leaves so as to remind the others that Nigeria is an independent country.
She forgets to say goodbye nicely to her former neighbours, for after all “she could never get that very same group of people, in the same ward having their babies again. It could never be repeated” (p. 138).
Why does Adah cry during her examination by the surgical team? A. She is in physical pain B. She feels unloved and neglected C. She is experiencing postpartum depression D. She is upset about Francis’ behaviour during his visit
How does Adah feel about the other women in the hospital? A. She envies their happiness and support systems B. She feels indifferent towards their lives C. She dislikes them for having better husbands D. She feels they pity her
What does Adah resolve to do after her argument with Francis in the hospital? A. Work harder to improve her marriage B. Rely more on Francis for support C. Move back to Nigeria D. Focus all her love on her children
Adah’s reflections on her past and her marriage highlight the recurring theme in Second Class Citizen? A. The pursuit of material wealth B. The impact of education on personal growth C. The consequences of patriarchy and cultural expectations D. The struggle for racial equality
Compare and contrast Adah’s relationship with Francis to the relationships of the other women in the hospital with their husbands.
Adah resolves to leave Francis one day. What events in this chapter build up to this resolution, and how do they reflect her growing self-awareness?
