Half of a Yellow Sun Lesson Plan

Do you feel sympathy for Odenigbo despite his unfaithfulness to Olanna? In what way does Adichie create the potential to feel sympathy for him?

Infidelity is a sensitive topic, so student responses will be based on their own perspectives. However, astute responses will notice that Adichie includes information in the narrative that presents an opportunity for readers to feel sympathy for him despite his hurtful behavior. Because readers have the narrative perspective of Ugwu, we are able to witness Odenigbo’s mother sabotaging her son for selfish reasons. She purposefully brought Amala to the house, purposefully got her son especially drunk, and purposefully sent Amala...