How we cite our quotes: Citations follow this format: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #1
They heard Macmillan bang his cabin door. Their eyes met for a second, and without another word Obi took her in his arms. She was trembling as he kissed her over and over again.
"Leave me," she whispered.
"I love you."
She was silent for a while, seeming to melt in his arms.
"You don't," she said suddenly. "We're only being silly. You'll forget it in the morning." She looked at him and then kissed him violently. "I know I'll hate myself in the morning." (3.64-68)
Though he barely knows Clara – and certainly doesn't know that she is part of a forbidden caste, the osu – Obi declares his love for her. Clara protests, in part because she knows things he doesn't.
Quote #2
Until Obi met Clara on board the cargo boat Sasa he had though of love as another grossly overrated European invention…There was always a part of him, the thinking part, which seemed to stand outside it all watching the passionate embrace with cynical disdain. The result was that one half of Obi might kiss a girl and murmur: "I love you," but the other half would say: "Don't be silly." And it was always this second half that triumphed in the end when the glamour had evaporated with the heat, leaving a ridiculous anticlimax
With Clara it was different. It had been from the very first. There was never a superior half at Obi's elbow wearing a patronizing smile. (7.56-57)
Without knowing much about Clara or her family, Obi has thrown himself head first into a passionate love affair. This kind of love affair is similar to romance in Western culture and indicates that Obi and Clara may have adopted some Western values.
Quote #3
He knew that many of these secretaries were planted to spy on Africans. One of their tactics was to pretend to be very friendly and broad-minded. One had to watch what one said….
As the weeks passed, however, Obi's guard began to come down "small small," as they say. It started with Clara's visit to his office one morning to tell him something or other. Miss Tomlinson had heard her voice on the telephone a few times and had commented on its attractiveness. Obi introduced them, and was a little surprised at the English woman's genuine delight. When Clara left she talked about nothing else for the rest of the day. "Isn't she beautiful? Aren't you lucky? When are you getting married? I shouldn't wait if I were you," and so on and so forth.
Obi felt like a clumsy schoolboy earning his first praise for doing something extraordinarily clever. He began to see Miss Tomlinson in a different light. If it was part of her tactics, it was really a very clever one for which she deserved credit. But it did not look clever or forced. It seemed to have come straight from her heart. (9.3-5)
Obi's love for Clara makes him receptive to Mr. Green's secretary, who is likely spying on Obi to see if he does anything wrong. Miss Tomlinson is able to practice her deceit (and might be involved in Obi's later downfall) because she flatters him about Clara.
Quote #4
For some reason he knew, despite the size of the parcel, that it contained his ring. And some money too! Yes, five-pound notes. But he didn't see any ring. He signed with relief and then read the little note enclosed.
Darling, I'm sorry about yesterday. Go to the bank straight away and cancel that overdraft. See you in the evening. Love, Clara.
His eyes misted. (11.14-16)
Obi thought he was alone in solving his bad financial situation. He thought Clara would break up with him over his irresponsible financial planning. But it turns out Clara wants to be his partner in financial matters as well. This situation also reveals how little Obi knows about love and partnership.
Quote #5
That evening they called on Christopher, Obi's economist friend. Clara had gradually come round to liking him. Perhaps he was a little too lively, which was not a serious fault. But she feared he might influence Obi for the worse in the matter of women. He seemed to enjoy going around with four or five at once. He even said there was nothing like love, at any rate in Nigeria. (11.34)
Christopher's willingness to go around with more than one woman might reflect the way the traditional culture of polygamy meets the modern European custom of dating.
Quote #6
Nylon dress is a lovely dress,
nylon dress is a country dress.
If you want to make your baby happy
Nylon is good for her.
…
If you want to make your baby happy
Go to the shop and get a doz'n of nylon.
She will know nobody but you alone
Nylon is good for you.
(11.66;70)
The theme of this song suggests that love is shown through material items. In Western ideology, love is idealized in such a way that material concerns are rarely considered a part of it. But traditionally, in western Africa, love is shown through giving gifts that enable a woman to live. Since women are the ones primarily responsible for feeding their families through subsistence farming, a husband in this culture doesn't have the same responsibilities that a husband in Europe or the United States has. Instead, men here give women aesthetically pleasing gifts that they couldn't get through their own farming and trading efforts.
Quote #7
Obi had been shocked by the crudity of Christopher's reaction to his story. …
"You know, Obi," he said, "I had wanted to discuss that matter with you. But I have learnt not to interfere in a matter between a man and a woman, especially with chaps like you who have wonderful ideas about love…That was why I didn't tell you anything about Clara. You may say that I am not broad-minded, but I don't think we have reached the stage where we can ignore all our customs. You may talk about education and so on, but I am not going to marry an osu." (15.32-33)
Christopher argues with Obi that love is not enough to overcome stigma and familial opposition. Essentially, he's saying that Romeo and Juliet is a wonderful story, but in real life, love needs more than romance to sustain it. Furthermore, he suggests, even though colonialism, Christianity, and Western education have changed Igbo culture, there are some cultural traditions that remain no matter what. These cultural traditions – such as not marrying an osu – will always trump love.
Quote #8
"Why don't you marry the girl anyway? She is very good-looking."
"I don't want to marry him," said Clara sullenly, the first thing she had said since they came in
"What's wrong with him? He seems a nice young man to me."
"I say I won't marry him. Isn't that enough?" she almost screamed, and rushed out of the room. Obi went quietly after her and they drove off. No single word passed between them all the way to the house of the next doctor who had been recommended to Obi. (15.49-52)
When Obi seeks an abortion for Clara, he discovers that Clara's mind is already made up –whatever love they had for each other is gone, and with it, their commitment to marry.
Quote #9
As he sat in the driver's seat, paralyzed by his thoughts, the doctor and Clara came out and entered a car that was parked by the side of the road. The doctor must have said something about him because Clara looked in his direction once and immediately took her eyes away. Obi wanted to rush out of his car and shout: "Stop. Let's go and get married now," but he couldn't' and didn't. The doctor's car drove away. (16.17)
In the end, Obi's love for Clara is not strong enough to overcome their difficult situation.
Quote #10
"Don't worry, she will be all right. But I want to have her under observation tonight in case of complications."
"Can't I see her?"
"No. Tomorrow morning. That is, if she wants to see you. Women are very funny creatures, you know." (16.20-22)
Neither the doctor nor Obi can understand how an abortion has the potential to change the way a woman looks on the man she once loved.