Changes: A Love Story Imagery

Changes: A Love Story Imagery

Marriage

Marriage is depicted negatively in this text, with many examples of men dominating and empowering their wives. Esi is raped by her husband, who is unhappy with her working outside of the home. Esi's best friend also struggles with her husband's attitude and is treated like she is inferior in her marriage. Ali is also presented as a controlling husband, as he forces his wife to give up her ambitions of further education to start a family with him.

Ali's gifts

When Ali treats Esi badly, he buys her expensive gifts to try and make up for it. These gifts are described as being extravagant and luxurious. For example, he buys her a new sports car. The gifts make Esi feel as if she is being bought.

Cars

Cars are a key image in this text, and often tell us something about its owner. Cars are a symbol of modern progression, and therefore symbolize in this text the social position of the person driving it. One example is Esi's car at the beginning of the novel, which is described as barely functioning, "coughing like some asthmatic." This represents her oppressive and stifled marriage. Later in the text she receives a car from Ali as a gift, which represents her relative freedom, but also represents her feelings about being “bought.”

Change

Change is a key image in this text and is included in the title. Throughout the novel Esi experiences many changes in her life, from the ending of her marriage to the beginning of a polyamorous relationship. This change represents wider social and political changes in Ghana, where the novel is set. It also refers to the need for progressive changes concerning female education and gender equality.

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