Quality Street – Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie (Short story)

Student’s Name:
Professor:
Course:
Date:
Quality Street by Chimamanda Ngozi AdichieBullet points: Relationship, headline, the clash between classes
People go through life changes especially when they go to live in a foreign place with a different culture from that which they have grown accustomed. Transformations are part of life that we must embrace. In this regard, Quality Street is a fictional narration about a detached relationship with a daughter and mother after being apart for some time. The story is authored by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie who uses a third-person narration to develop the plot and convey the message in a descriptive form. The story is set in Lagos, Nigeria, and revolves around the issues of relationship, the clash between classes and family.
In the Quality Street, Sochienne and Mrs. Njoku bring out the important element of a relationship between mother and daughter. The author talks about the strained connection between mother and daughter from the beginning of the story. The relationship and bond they once had, which had ceased to be due to Sochienne`s change. The writer notes that “One of the few things that Mrs. Njoku and her daughter Sochienne could still do together without Acrimony was drink tea” (Adichie 1). Anyone reading Quality Street can see that they have a tense relationship but Mrs. Njoku still loves her daughter so much that she is willing to compromise things for her. Adichie writes “….so Mrs. Njoku put away the fresh milk and bought tins of Peak condensed milk, which they poured, in a thin stream, into their tea” (1).

This statementclearly shows her willingness to connect with her daughter and the love she still holds for her that she is willing to do things to please her. This shows the depth of their relationship.
Sochienne compared faith to “Quality Street,” the tin of candy. She considered faith similar to the notion of voyaging through life choices. Each has their own choice they have to make and stick by. Sochienne went to Ohio to study. She returns a different individual from her previous character and behavior. Adichie (2) writes, “but who knew a private university in Ohio would mean that Sochienne would return six years later, announcing that she was engaged to a Kenyan, refusing to eat meat, asking the baffled houseboys about fair wages and wearing her hair in long rubbery dreadlocks.” The statement signifies her change in character and behavior. Sochienne made her choice to be a different person from her exposure after learning in the University. This is what marked her present being.
Social class and differentiation are evident in Quality Street in some different scenarios. Mrs. Njoku is too conscious of her social status in the community. Adichie says, “…she would, of course, be a subject of mockery in homes and hair salons all over Lagos; she could already imagine Mrs. Fernandez-Cole lips curled, saying village wedding” (2). This is when her daughter informs her that her wedding will be held at Amarachi. The second instance is evident in Sochienne`s character. She is a great advocator for the lower class individuals. In the Quality Street, “when they pulled into the restaurant, she asked the driver to come in with them, turning to her mother to say that the man had not eaten anything all day” (Adichie 4). Mrs. Njoku is appalled by this decision and ends up arguing with her daughter. This is a real example of the social clash that is present in their society.
In conclusion, Quality Street by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie revolves around two main Characters, Mrs. Ngozi and her daughter Sochienne who have a somewhat strained relationship. Through different scenarios, the author develops and brings out thematic issues starting from the meaning of its title to the relationship between the two main characters. The author also shows the clash of different classes within the short story.

Works Cited
Adichie, Chimamanda N. “Quality Street – Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie.” 2010.
Mutford, John. “Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie: Quality Street.” 4 May 2010. www.bookmineset.com/2010/04/readers-diary-598-Chimamanda-ngozi.html