Essay Questions

Why is Adichie arguing that a single story is dangerous?

A single story about an individual or a country can be misleading and rob someone of his dignity. According to Adichie, a single story can be biased to ruin the reputation of an individual or country. For instance, Adichie gives several illustrations of how the Western media and literature portray Africa as a primitive continent. Adichie advises her audience to do research before making a judgment based on a single story.

How does Adichie deconstruct her mother's narrative that Fade will remain poor for the rest of his life?

Adichie's mother is one of the people who do not bother to know both sides of the coin and believe what they see and hear. When Adichie's mother brings Fade to work as a house cleaner in their house, she consistently reminds Adichie that the boy comes from a low-income family. In other words, Adichie's mother has concluded that Fade cannot change his situation. At first, Adichie believes her mother's story. However, when Adichie gets a chance to visit Fade's home, she discovers that the family is talented. Thus, Adichie disowns her mother's narrative that Fade cannot change his situation. According to Adichie, given an opportunity, Fade can change his status and become successful.

How does Adichie develop an authentic cultural voice in her writings?

Adichie is determined to find facts before making her own conclusions. Unlike in her early years when she believed in one-sided stories, Adichie has grown to appreciate people and learn more about them before making any conclusions. As a result, Adichie can write and narrate stories based on objectivity and facts that represent reality. Adichie's childhood in Western literature taught her that a story can be biased, thus pushing people to make wrong assumptions.