Campbell University Literature Changes A Love Story Discussion Questions

All of these Discussions have to be a brief analysis and interpretation in your own words. And, you have to provide proof with parenthesis from the page. The book is attached below.

Discussion Question #1 for Aidoo’s Changes

What does Esi do, and where does she work? What does Oko do for a living? After they married, Esi moved with Oko to Kumasi and worked at the office of the Birth and Death register. How did Esi feel about living in Kumasi and working at the office at that time? Was Oko sympathetic towards Esi and her situation in Kumasi? Six years later, Esi now has a job in Accra (the Capital of Ghana), but she is frustrated with the men in the office. Why is she angry with herself when she has to go to a travel agency, Linga HideAways? Why does she regret that she couldn’t “prevent herself from falling into that trap”? Does Oko understand Esi’s frustration at work, or does Esi ignore Oko and their marriage?

Discussion Question#2

Oko tells Esi, “My friends are laughing at me. They think I’m not behaving like a man” (8). What does he mean by “behaving like a man”? What is the major conflict between Oko and Esi? Why did Esi marry Oko? Why was she particularly angry with Oko on that Monday morning? What does Esi think of Oko? What are the main reasons Esi wants to end her marriage with Oko? Is her decision unreasonable and/or unrealistic?

Discussion Question#3

What does Opokuya do for a living and what does her husband Kubi do? What argument/friction does Opokuya have with Kubi every morning, and why does Kubi not allow Opokuya to use the car? Is there any other reason that Kubi does not allow his wife to use the car? Is Kubi unreasonable, or is he controlling his wife by not allowing the car she needs to use for the family? How would you characterize Kubi? How would you characterize Opokuya in terms of her way of dealing with the issues with her husband?

Discussion Question#4

What does Opokuya think of Esi’s decision? How would you describe the difference between Opokuya and Esi in their views of marriage and the roles of women? What does Opokuya think of birth control or contraceptive pills? Opokuya tells Esi: “Our societies have had no patience with the unmarried women”. What is she trying to tell Esi by saying this? Why is Esi telling Opokuya, “I’m sure there’ll be no solution for me. Unless I meet a man who is prepared to accept my lifestyle”? Is Esi’s thinking too modern, or is she unrealistic about the real status of women in Ghanaian society? Is Opokuya sympathetic to Esi’s situation or is she envious of Esi’s choice or something else?

Discussion Question#5

What does Esi’s mother think of Esi’s divorce from Oko and her decision? What does Esi’s grandmother think of Esi’s decision to become Ali’s second wife? Why do you think Ali is attracted to Esi? Why does Esi want to be Ali’s second wife? Does Esi understand the cultural practice of polygamy in that society? Ali loves his wife Fusena, but he wants to have Esi as his second wife. How would you characterize Ali? What is his justification for polygamy? Why does Esi take the ring from Ali and tell him, “Yes, that she has become occupied territory”? Does Esi feel sad about her situation, or is she happy that she loves Ali and can marry him?

Discussion Question#6

What did Fusena do before she married Ali? Why couldn’t she continue to do her work after her marriage to Ali? While staying in London after marriage, Fusena felt “life should offer more than marriage”? Why did she feel that way? After they’ve returned to Accra, Ali tells her, “teaching is out of the question”. What do you make of Ali’s reasoning here? How would you characterize Fusena? After learning that Ali is going to take a second wife, Fusena asks Ali a question about whether “she [Esi] has a university degree” and then she removes her veil completely and drives off. What do you make of Fusena’s question here and her reaction to Ali’s decision?