The ‘Invisible’ Sibling: An Analysis of Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s “Cell One” and “Tomorrow Is Too Far”

Abstract

Abstract

“Cell One” and “Tomorrow is Too Far” are short stories included in The Thing Around Your Neck, an anthology by Nigerian author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Both these stories have many elements in common. In “Cell One”, the unnamed protagonist narrates the various habits of her brother Nnamabia. She analyses the events as an objective observer, as if she is standing outside the circle of her family and community. “Tomorrow is Too Far” is told from a second person narrative. In it, we find the protagonist citing her experiences which entail that she is discriminated by her grandmother and her mother. Everybody prefers her brother, Nonso, the son of her grandmother’s only son. Thus, both the stories taken for study, clearly reflect the discrimination among siblings on the basis of gender.