A good list of characters analysis of Second Class Citizen by Buchi Emecheta must include Mr. Cole (the teacher from Sierra Leone), Francis Obi, Adah Ofili, Mr. Noble and The Mr. Okpara Pa, Ma, Boy and Lawyer Nweze. In addition there are other characters that we should be sure to mention the following: Peggy, Janet, Bill Mr Ojo, Mr Barking, Mrs. Konrad, Trudy, Miss Stirling, and Cousin Vincent.
We should not forget these little characters from Second Class Citizen like Tony, Titi, Vicky, Bubu and Dada.
However, this is far from being the full list of characters from Buchi Emecheta’s Second Class Citizen.
In this blog post I’ll present to you the list of the characters featured in the novel. This post’s goal is to assist you recognize both major characters and the minor characters from Second Class Citizen. We will also give a brief overview of the characters as well as their role in Second Class Citizen.
Don’t waste any time now, let’s begin our comprehensive list of characters from Second Class Citizen by famous Nigerian novelist Buchi Emecheta.
1. Adah Obi (nee Ofili)
Adah is the most obvious candidate to be the first choice on these characters from Second Class Citizen.
It is due to the fact that Adah is the principal character in the novel Second Class Citizen. The whole story tells the tale of Adah an innocent Nigerian girl who belongs to the Igbo tribe in the south-eastern region of Nigeria.
The daughter of late Mr. Ofili, a native of Ibuza and an Ibuza World War II veteran who passed away suddenly due to complications resulting from injuries he suffered during the war.
Ma, Adah’s mom. Ma also passed shortly after, she turned 38.
At some point in her teenage years, Adah becomes the wife of Francis Obi, a young man she got married against her relatives’ wishes.
As a girl who was growing to adulthood, Adah was a dreamer who wanted to go to the United Kingdom.
She also cherished the dream that she could become a librarian as well as an author.
Adah’s path to the fulfillment of her desires has not been easy to put it lightly. She’s faced many hurdles to obtain the education she needs and marital status as well as financial security to allow for her travels to United Kingdom.
Then she arrives in England and is shocked to discover there are many issues. United Kingdom is not exactly what she was expecting. Apart from the cold winter temperatures as well as the lack of accommodation, it is a poor choice for accommodations and there is discrimination based on race against immigrants of African descent.
And then she must endure a lot of hardship because of the insipid and uncaring attitude of Francis her husband.
While this is happening, Adah keeps getting pregnant at a rapid rate.
The emotional and financial burden becomes too excessive for Adah to carry. The attempt she makes to use the family planning cap in order to prevent having more children is a disaster. Francis discovers the plan and beats her brutally.
In spite of all the difficulties, Adah refuses to give up. She writes her first novel, but Francis is not pleased. He burns her manuscript in the face of Adah.
After she has moved out to live by herself with her four young youngsters, Francis traces her to her new home and has up a fight with her. The one that follows is more violent and more terrifying than other assaults. It’s not surprising that the narrator names the fight the Big Fight.
The Big Fight
Francis attempts to break into Adah’s two-room home, armed with knives. Fortunately for Adah her neighbors are there to help. Adah informs the police of Francis, and the accused is brought before the Magistrate’s Court.
The final outcome does not meet with the expectations of everyone. Adah herself starts to express worries about what the judge might decide to do to Francis. She stutters throughout the trial. Also, Francis himself in his typical style is able to tell the magistrate a number of hilarious and sly lies.
He is a divorcee from Adah as well as the children. Adah goes home with a feeling of deflation. One thing is for certain in her thoughts. She will never be able to stay with Francis never again.
Adah’s Transformation – Development of Adah’s Character
Adah was at one time a resourceful, determined and determined young lady who was able to achieve what she desired. But , somehow, after her arrival to England the shock she is confronted with and the bizarre actions of her husband Francis make her into a quiet wife and a clueless mother.
Her undying devotion to Francis and the fact that she is the only relatives in this world makes it difficult for her to embrace Francis in the way she is able to.
In the meantime, Adah appears to be in a bind in deciding how she can handle the savageries she endures in the presence of an abusive man who she is calling husband.
DEVELOPMENT OF THE CHARACTER OF ADAH IN SECOND CLASS CITIZEN
Some of the traits that characterize Adah.
- Dreamer
- Determined
- Resourceful
- A loving and nurturing mother
Adah is a loving mother with an instinct for motherhood. Her ability to recognize the signs that something isn’t quite in order with her children at her home, away from the workplace she works at is awe inspiring to Cynthia One of their coworkers in North Finchley Library. North Finchley Library.
- The most faithful wife
- Hardworking
- Brilliant academically
- Dependent on emotions Francis
Adah is emotionally in love with Francis. It is perhaps her most vulnerable spot, and also the biggest weakness of Adah. Francis recognizes this flaw in Adah and takes advantage of it to the max.
- A faithful wife. This is different from Francis her husband, who has numerous extra-marital affairs.
- Friendly. Adah has the natural ability to attract people quickly.
- Stubborn. As a girl of the ages, Adah does not take the word “no” for an answer.
The next character on our list of characters from Second Class Citizen is Francis Obi.
2. Francis Obi
Francis Obi is the second most significant character from The Second Class Citizen. He is the incredibly undeveloped young man Adah decides to marry, despite being able to can’t pay for her wedding.
Francis is from an typical Igbo family where male kids are lavishly spoiled and over-protected. It is evident that the the male privilege Francis was raised in has shaped his view of the female gender as well as his outlook on life in too numerous ways.
The Character and Role of Francis in Second Class Citizen
The character of Second Class Citizen consequently, Francis appears to be an extremely unattractive character. Here are a few characteristics of Francis in Second Class Citizen.
- Abusive husband
- Father who is not responsible
- Lazy student
- I am envious of Adah’s academic and professional accomplishments
- Naturally attractive. That’s why Adah is in love with him, despite the harm he can cause her.
- He doesn’t care about his appearance. He often looks untidy.
- Opportunistic. Even when it comes to matters of faith and religion the man shifts from one religion or belief to another depending on his personal desires.
- Self-control isn’t always in place
- The man who loves sex to the max. This is why he has a womanizing personality and the frequent births Adah has had.
- Francis is a lonesome person. Francis isn’t the kind of person that has friends who come to him constantly. In addition, he rarely goes out to see anyone.
3. Pa (Adah’s Father)
Pa is Adah’s father. He is an Second World War veteran.
At the start of the novel Pa is employed at a station for railways located in Lagos, Nigeria. He was also an engineer at the locomotive-yard.
Up until his passing, Pa has been very affectionate of Adah. He has made sure that Adah is enrolled in the highly regarded Ladi-Lak Institute the same school in which Boy Adah’s younger brother has already been admitted to.
Pa is a man with a distinct method of calling her name Adah. He refers to her as Nne Nna in addition to other names.
Pa’s sudden demise causes a major disruption in the lives for his entire family. For instance, Adah has to go to work as a slave at her maternal uncle’s house.
Note: It is important to note that Mr. Ofili is not the only one who is who is referred to as Pa within the story. Francis’s father is also referred to as Pa. Pa is thus an appropriate way of addressing an individual father figure within Igbo culture and numerous others in African societies.
4. Ma (Adah’s Mother)
Ma In Second Class Citizen, Adah’s mom. There is a relationship that exists between Adah and Ma isn’t as warm as the one the relationship between Adah as well as Pa.
A memorable incident that involved Ma in the show Second Class Citizen is that she is brought to the police station, where she is accused of negligence by a child. This is the time Adah is taken away to school, while Ma is talking to an acquaintance within the building.
The gari-and-water-drinking ordeal Ma goes through at the police station adds an element of humour to the narrative.
Beyond that, the incident at the police station that is featured in the film Second Class Citizen, opens the way to the young Adah to attend school, which is the first major move in the plot toward the realization of the protagonist’s wish to go into The United Kingdom.
In the following story later on, Adah’s Ma wants a high wedding price from anyone who wants to marry her. wedding.
Ma too passes away at the age of 38. which leaves orphaned Adah and Boy all by themselves in the world.
Also, take be aware that Francis’s mother is also identified in the same manner as Ma on”Second Class Citizen. However, her presence isn’t as prominent as Adah’s Ma.
Boy is the next on your list of characters to be found in the second Class Citizen.
5. Boy
Boy is Adah’s younger brother. As with other male children who are part of Igbo social structure, Boy enjoys special privileges over Adah the elder sister of Adah.
For instance, Boy is given all the assistance needed to go to the costly Ladi-Lak Institute while Adah is at home and is confined by household duties.
Boy is very fond of sister Adah however he hates Francis her husband of choice.
When Adah is finally able to leave Nigeria’s shores Nigeria and joins Francis on the other side of England, Boy cries bitterly. Boy will then send all his money to Adah and beg her to leave her abusive husband.
6. Cousin Vincent
Cousin Vincent from Second Class Citizen one the boys of Adah’s uncle’s mother. He is one of the minor characters from the story.
He seems to be a vengeful young man with no respect for females.
It is revealed that we meet Cousin Vincent in the episode in which Adah must take cash ( 2 shillings) intended for the purchase of teak worth a pound in order to enroll for The Common Entrance Examination. The money is buried in the ground , then returns home , claiming the money has been lost.
Vincent is not having any of it. Vincent gives Adah up to 103 strokes with the Koboko cane however Adah will not cry.
Then, Cousin Vincent’s anger increased and he began to cane her violently throughout her body. After one hundred and three strikes and a half, he informed Adah that he would never speak with her again, neither in this lifetime, and in the years to be. Adah was not bothered by this. She was actually extremely happy. She had made two shillings. He was a nasty man, a nasty one.
Buchi Emecheta (Second Class Citizen)
The case involving Cousin Vincent can be used to illustrate at least two traits that Adah has in her. She is an extremely persistent and determined person who is extremely efficient even at the point of criminality.
Now we can examine Francis’s parents from this list of characters from the second Class Citizen.
7. Pa (Francis’s Father)
There is not much to say regarding the character of Francis’s Pa within the story. Pa or Francis’s father is also known, is an extensive family consisting of female and male children. Here are some details to keep in mind about the Pa, another the Second Class Citizen.
Considerable Influence Over Francis
First, it is important to note that Francis’s Pa holds so much power upon his son, that he is unable to make even simple decisions about his wedding without the assistance of his father.
A good example of this is an instance is Francis seeks out his father about what he needs to do to deal with Adah’s pay that is about 60 pounds. The problem is that his wife’s pay is higher than his.
Francis grieves that colleagues at work have already begun to mock the snarky employees at his workplace. Francis’s Pa suggests that his son think of Adah’s pay as God-sent. To be sure, he should stop complaining as if he’s an idiot.
You’re a fool man, you are. Where will she send the money? Her family? Her family members who didn’t even visit to express their congratulations on the birth of her baby Titi? Your family and friends, who didn’t care if she was alive or not? The money is yours Do you not be sure? Let her go to do the work of a million Americans and bring the money they earn here to this home. You are lucky. It was a wise choice when you married your son.
Believer In Male Dominance
Second Francis’s Pa believes in the dominance of males in marriage within the larger society.
He sees women as objects to be utilized and exploited in the best way is. This is the reason he informs Francis that the salary of Adah can be considered his. It is in this perception of the feminine gender that Francis taught with his sons. It’s no wonder that Francis develops into the abusive husband he’s turned into.
He Does Not Believe In Women’s Rights
It’s not surprising it is therefore not surprising that Francis’s Pa is not a fan for the rights of women.
One example of this is his inability to permit Adah go to United Kingdom to join her husband, Francis. In the words of Francis’s Pa, London is just the same as Lagos and there’s no need for Adah to travel to visit London. However, Adah does not wish to go without the financial support Adah is now providing to him and his family.
He Is A Realist
Franicis’s Pa is acutely aware of the plight of the unemployed in Nigeria. When he was a teenager, he was a victim of unemployment himself. He wants Adah to remain in Nigeria and hold her lucrative job that is hard to find.
It’s only when Adah informs him that her trip to England will be unpaid which means that her job for the American Consulate Library will be in anticipation of her return that Francis’s father finally agrees with Adah’s trip to England.
He Is Unable to Provide For His Family
His father, Franicis, is unable to financially support his family.
So, Adah’s entrance in the Obi family and her lucrative income through the American Consulate Library is the primary source of income for the Obi family.
It is extremely likely that the inability of Francis to support his wife and children is just a family issue. Francis is simply following the example of his father’s books.
Francis’s Ma is the next on our list of characters from Second Class Citizen.
8. Ma (Francis’s Mother)
Adah’s mother-in law is also called Ma within the book. However, in contrast to Adah’s Ma the mother of Francis is not prominently featured in the story.
A notable incident that involves Francis’s Ma is the way Adah cleverly persuades her to allow her travel to be with Francis to England.
In the beginning, Adah’s mother in-law was not thrilled with Adah’s plans to go to England. Like her husband, she’s worried that the family could lose the huge financial support Adah has received.
However, Adah is aware that the woman she is with is a materialist. Therefore, all she does is convince the woman that she Francis will come back in the future with more cars, money and other luxuries for the family.
9. Lawyer Nweze
There is no way that Lawyer Nweze be absent from the cast of characters from The Second Class Citizen.
Lawyer Nweze, the most renowned child of Igbo village of Ibuza. Lawyer Nweze has done his home town proud by achieving a feat that is rare. The lawyer Nweze is the first child of Ibuza to study in England and be lawyer.
To be honest his departure to Nigeria or the United Kingdom to Nigeria is an excellent opportunity for the indigenous people of Ibuza who live in Lagos. The elaborate preparations that the women of Ibuza prepare to prepare for the arrival of Lawyer Nweze are unique.
They greet him at the Apapa Wharf with huge joy and celebration. The Ibuza men Ibuza also planned an entire Sunday to offer Lawyer Nweze a warm welcome.
Lawyer Nweze is a key character within the story. Even though that he’s not directly engaged in the plot.
- He is an innovator
The first thing to note is that Lawyer Nweze’s accomplishment is a source of inspiration for the youngsters from Ibuza to follow his example. An excellent example of this is how Nweze’s return to the United Kingdom gives birth to Adah’s desire to receive an education and move to the same destination.
- In this way Lawyer Nweze isn’t only Adah’s role model. He also plays a role in the dream or ambition theme in the film Second Class Citizen.
- In addition, the story of Lawyer Nweze shows the value his people put on male education , to the detriment to their female counterparts.
This is a further example of discrimination based on gender throughout the book. Perhaps, if Nweze was female, he might not have been able to attend school and even go to England to take an elite course such as Law.
In the future, doubts start to surface regarding the real capabilities of Lawyer Nweze as an attorney in practice. Maybe the society exaggerates the skills that its boys have.
- Contribution to the Development of the Plot
Then, Lawyer Nweze adds to the creation of the plot in the Second Class Citizen. To summarize his triumphant return from England is the genesis of Adah’s desire. Then this event becomes the main reason behind all the actions of the protagonist, and the results they bring to the end that concludes the story.
10. Oboshi, The River Goddess of Ibuza
So who or what exactly is Oboshi in the movie Second Class Citizen?
The story of Buchi Emecheta’s novel Second Class Citizen, Oboshi is the largest River in Ibuza. It isn’t ordinary. It is not. Oboshi can also be the revered god of Ibuza. Oboshi is a goddess of females who is revered with respect.
Oboshi is fearsome because she is known to hit anyone who violates her guidelines by displaying leprosy.
If a person from Ibuza does well the credit should go to Oboshi. Therefore, the Ibuza people are pleased that due Oboshi’s direction Lawyer Nweze wasn’t led off course. He made the right choice to not return a white woman to her home.
Oboshi uses the novel to establish one of the theme of religion and faith within the story.
For instance, the people who live in Ibuza think that Oboshi might have brought on leprosy, a dreadful disease on Nweze should he had returned to his home with white women.
Adah’s Attitude Towards Oboshi
Adah’s unique attitude to religion in general, and his claims regarding Oboshi’s abilities in particular are worth mentioning here.
Adah has shown a lot of concern for spiritual issues within the story. There are numerous references to the scriptures of the Christian bible throughout the story. We also have seen her close ties to The Presence.
Beyond that, Adah questions the potency of Oboshi’s famous abilities. She asks how the goddess of the river is not concerned when foreign oil companies use their equipment that degrades the environment and the river.
Then, Adah did not know what was happening to the Oboshi. Oboshi however. Oil was found near the shore, so she let oilmen to dig up her, without cursing the lepersy. The oilmen were mostly white and were a shock. Maybe she’d long been declared redundant by more powerful gods. This shouldn’t have been a surprise to Adah since everyone could be declared redundant nowadays including goddesses. If she was not redundant, she was probably asleep in the Rip Van Winkle state because she also permitted to allow Hausa soldiers to murder her sons. Also, certain Ibuza men were married to white women without developing leprosy. In the this year an Ibuza girl who graduated had married an American! That’s why Oboshi was quicker than the majority of her daughters and sons in catching up with times.
Oboshi Plays a Central Role in the Life of Ibuza
If Francis will head to England the people of his congregation pray to Oboshi to assist him with the following.
- She must shield Francis from the gaze of the evil white girls.
- Oboshi has to help Francis in passing his exams with speed and accuracy.
- Furthermore, she has to be a blessing to her with the wealth as well as other objects in England.
- Oboshi must guard him against harmful diseases such as the Plague.
Incredibly, Francis seems to be lost by Oboshi when his arrival in England.
In the case of Adah her dislike of the beliefs of her people intensifies. She’s confused about what Oboshi could protect Ibuza people living in distant England.
In essence in a nutshell, Oboshi is the goddess of the river. Oboshi is used to create the concept of superstition within Second Class Citizen, and to show Adah’s interest in spiritual or supernatural issues. Her sarcastic attitude towards Oboshi and occasionally the passages from the Christian bible could be a reflection of the author’s personal beliefs about these matters.
11. Mr Cole
Mr. Cole in Second Class Citizen is an Sierra Leonean national who lives and is employed in Lagos.
He is described as extremely dark-skinned large and tall.
The Mr. Cole is also Adah’s neighbor.
The Mr. Cole is a professional teacher. He is a teacher at the Methodist primary school in the mission where 8-year-old Adah escapes to a hot summer afternoon, without Ma’s permission.
The Mr. Cole is a kind man as evidenced by the warm way he greets Adah whenever she shows up in his class. He even purchases meals for Adah and transports Ma to the local police station, where Ma was arrested for ignoring her parent obligations.
12. Mr Eke
Mr. Eke is mentioned just at the end of the book. He’s probably Francis’s friend from a distance because Francis has never had any long-term relationships.
It’s Adah who employs Mr. Eke to illustrate to express her displeasure at the kind of arrangement Francis has made for her and their infant youngsters in England.
Pay attention to her:
Check out your buddy Mr Eke who, once he realised that his wife was due to arrive along with her daughter. He ensured that the family moved out of this place.
13. Mr Ojo
The Mr. Ojo and his wife are co-tenants of the Obis. These also happen to be Nigerians who have made the decision to move into England and not have their 4 children. They are among those who recommend Francis as well as Adah to either send the children home to Nigeria or locate a child-minder for their children.
They are clear that Adah as well as Francis the fact that “only first-class citizens lived with their children, not the blacks”
Let’s discuss briefly The character of Mr. Devlin a part of the cast of characters from the second Class Citizen.
14. Mr Devlin
The character Mr. Devlin from The Second Class Citizen plays Adah’s Irish co-tenant who helps her In The Great Fight. The man lives at the exact home in which Adah moves to after escaping onto Francis and her kids. The character Mr. Devlin who saves Adah from danger in the event that Francis is brutally smacks the girl in her newly-built bedroom. He must open Adah’s doors to protect her from the brutal beatings by Francis.
15. Mr Okpara
The Mr. Okpara is the Igbo man who Adah is able to meet in a park in one of her tragic scenes in London.
In many ways In many ways, Mr. Okpara is in many ways the exact the opposite to Francis. He is well-dressed and fully employed. He also is married to a stable woman.
Mr. Okpara convinces Adah to return him to his to the house so that they can apologize to her husband over what he believes was the wrongdoing of Adah.
Unfortunately the man. Okpara is met with a hostile response from Francis. His suggestion to Francis to become a good husband and father is ignored by Francis.
16. Mr Barking
While the character Mr. Barking is a minor part of the list of characters from The Second Class Citizen movie, he’s worth noting.
So who is Mr. Barking in Second Class Citizen? Here’s a quick answer.
Mr. Barking is the shy big boss who works at Chalk Farm Library. As you can discover within this post, Chalk Farm Library is a location that plays an important part in Second Class Citizen.
The man. Barking is ‘thin and poor-tempered’. He’s always thinking about his daughter who has been married to a man who he thinks is a pathetic person.
The only thing that he seems to be concerned about is the way to end the marriage of his daughter. Indeed it doesn’t matter whether this will cost him his life.
In a tiny way it is possible that Mr. Barking helps to develop the idea of marriages that are problematic within the Second Class Citizen.
17. Irene
Irene is actually an integral part of this long list of characters from Second Class Citizen
Who is Irene in the second Class Citizen?
In the novel Irene is West Indian girl who has baby with the father of a Nigerian. However, this man is unable to wed her since he insists that the child isn’t his.
It’s Irene who tells Adah that she is able to live on Assistance until her children reach the age of.
When the birth of Dada, Adah gives three pounds to Irene in order to have her post three cards every day following the baby was born.
Adah requests Irene to send two huge bouquets of flowers. One will be delivered upon her arrival, with the name “Francis”, the other “with sentimental words”.
Irene must send the remaining group after she’s had “her safe delivery”
If Adah be born prematurely, Irene must turn the bouquets into a wreath, with her children’s names on it. At this point, Irene cannot help but shed tears.
So, Irene’s connection with Adah aids in revealing the emotional pain Adah has been through. The issues she’s endured have become so torturous that she’s ready for a premature death. Therefore, Adah of all people is seeking ways to let her heartfelt emotions. Irene has been the person to create this possibility.
18. Adah’s Headmaster
The headmaster of the Second Class Citizen series is also the head at Adah’s school for primary students. He lists the secondary school that students can apply to.
Adah smiles at herself when she is able to hear the words of encouragement from The Presence.
Unfortunately for Adah the headmaster believes this to mean that she’s amusing herself. So, he assigns four tough-looking students to keep her in his arms while he applies brutal corporal punishment.
It is severe that Adah must get her teeth stuck into the back of Latifu. This incident earns Adah the name “The Igbo Tigress.”.
19. Cynthia
Cynthia is one of Adah’s co-workers at the North Finchley Library in London. Cynthia is getting wed “and was sure hers was going to work”. When she realizes that Adah is hungry , but isn’t eating and is hungry, she gives her food. It’s Cynthia whom Adah confides in suspicions that Vicky has become sick.
20. Babalola, Eileen, Janet, Sue, Trudy and More
The final page details about such notable characters like Babalola, Janet, Sue, Eileen, Trudy, and many more.
