Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in The Girl with the Louding Voice, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Education, Empowerment, and Self-Worth
Gender Inequality and Solidarity
Wealth, Poverty, and Choice
Survival
Summary
Analysis
Fact: Nollywood, Nigeria’s film industry, produces over 55 films per week and is worth about $5 billion. The next day, Big Madam summons Adunni to the parlor, where she is watching a Yoruba movie on TV. Big Madam tells Adunni she will crack her head open the next time Adunni disobeys her orders, and that Adunni should be grateful that Tia Dada was here yesterday to come to her aid. Apparently, Ms. Tia threatened to call the police, though Big Madam finds this laughable, as she is such an important figure in society. Big Madam calls Ms. Tia an “empty barrel,” because she has no children after an entire year of marriage.
Big Madam isn’t worried about Ms. Tia’s threat to call the police because she knows that her wealth and important position in society will prevent the police from taking any action against her. Her flippant response to Ms. Tia also suggests that beating and mistreating a housewife is seen as relatively acceptable behavior. In calling Ms. Tia an “empty barrel,” Big Madam insinuates that Ms. Tia is worthless or unfulfilled because she is childless.
Themes
Adunni is angry to hear Big Madam talking this way about Ms. Tia but keeps her mouth shut. Big Madam tells Adunni that she will be gone for two weeks next week, traveling to Switzerland and Dubai, as well as the UK, to see her kids. Big Daddy will also be gone, but if he comes back early, Adunni must not answer to him: she can only answer to Big Daddy if Big Madam is also in the house. Adunni tries to ask Big Madam a question about Rebecca again. Adunni’s curiosity enrages Big Madam, who tries to beat Adunni with her shoe.
Big Madam’s wealth enables her to travel not just around Nigeria but abroad, as well. The fact that Big Madam’s children live abroad shows that they have inherited their mother’s wealth and reap some of the benefits of a privileged life. Big Madam’s warning not to answer to Big Daddy underscores his dangerousness. Her extreme response to Adunni’s question about Rebecca is further evidence that something fishy is going on with the missing former housemaid. It also reminds Adunni that just because she has one ally in Ms. Tia doesn’t mean Big Madam will stop abusing her.
Themes
Adunni runs outside, where she finds Abu at the water tap. Abu and Adunni don’t talk very often, but they are always friendly when they run into each other. Like Kofi—and everyone else Adunni has encountered here at Big Madam’s, Big Madam included—Abu has a strange accent. But Adunni acknowledges that if they all take the time to listen, they can all understand one another. Adunni tries to ask Abu about Rebecca, but he doesn’t provide any information and cautions her not to look for trouble.
Adunni’s comment about taking the time to listen and understand one another’s different accents is something of a poetic musing about the good things that can be achieved when people are educated and engaged with the world around them. Learning how to understand others takes time but ultimately pays off when everyone is able to communicate effectively with one another. Abu’s insinuation that to ask about Rebecca is to look for trouble heightens Adunni’s suspicions and fuels her desire to learn the truth.
Themes
