49 pages • 1 hour read
The Joys of Motherhood
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Chapters 16-18Chapter Summaries & Analyses
Chapter 16 Summary: “A Mother of Clever Children”
Three months later, Nnu Ego and her family move to a mud house in Onike, an area without electricity or indoor plumbing. Nnu Ego purchases a sewing machine to enable her to begin selling clothes.
On the day that Oshia leaves to attend an expensive secondary school in Warri, Adaku and Mama Abby come to see him off. Adaku reveals that her girls are attending a convent school, and she plans to educate them further. Nnu Ego’s older set of twin daughters are no longer in school as she needs their help to pay for her sons’ educations, and she plans for them to marry in a few years.
A few years pass. Okpo, who is good-natured and submissive to Nnu Ego, gives birth to a girl. Adim, now 11, asks to attend secondary school like Oshia. Nnu Ego explains that Oshia, as the firstborn son, receives special treatment; at best, they can afford to send Adim to a local secondary school. Meanwhile, Oshia announces his intention to attend university after secondary school, delaying his potential to support his parents financially.
At the age of 40, Nnu Ego becomes pregnant once again. One day, while her children are away, she gives birth to a girl who is stillborn.
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