His Only Wife

Why does Afi agree to marry Eli? What does she believe that the arranged marriage will resolve for her, her family, and Eli’s family? How do Afi’s thoughts on the union develop the novel’s explorations of the Dynamics of Arranged Marriage and the Intersection of Tradition and Personal Desire?

How do Afi’s marriage and home complicate her understanding of herself and her future? What does Afi gain via her arranged marriage? What does she sacrifice? How does her time at King’s Court augment her loneliness and frustration, and why?

Compare and contrast Afi’s relationships with Mawusi and Evelyn. Consider the similarities and differences between the women’s personalities and lives. How do each of the women relate to Afi, and in what ways do these friendships influence how Afi understands herself, her marriage, and her life? Do the women empower or disempower Afi? How and why?

Is Afi’s narrative a love story? How does her regard for Eli complicate her understanding of their relationship and herself? Consider how Eli’s behavior does or does not change after he starts staying with Afi. Consider how Afi’s modes of self-expression evolve over this same period. In what ways is Afi trying to subvert and redefine the Dynamics of Arranged Marriage via her relationship with Eli?

How does Afi seize control over her life throughout the novel? What relationships, dynamics, and settings entrap her, and how does she liberate herself from these trappings? In what ways does Afi resist tradition to pursue her desires? Consider how these facets of her character relate to the novel’s explorations of the Empowerment of Women.

How do Afi’s relationships with her elders influence her journey toward self-liberation and self-empowerment? Consider the roles that Aunty and Olivia play in Afi’s story. How do these female characters contrast with Mawusi’s, Evelyn’s, and even Muna’s characters?

How are Afi’s sewing aspirations representative of empowerment and liberation? Consider the role that Afi’s design goals play in her understanding of self as well as her relationship with the boutique. In what way might it be significant that Afi achieves economic independence through a creative and traditionally feminine pursuit?

Do marriage and motherhood ultimately define Afi’s character? Why or why not? Cite examples from the text in which Afi’s marital and maternal roles complicate her personal desires. Consider the social expectations associated with these domestic spheres.