Characters

The main character in Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s short story “Ghosts” is James Nwoye, who is also the narrator of the events. James is a seventy-three-year-old retired professor of mathematics. He has strong ties to his country and his roots and often reflects on the differences between the past and the present. While James has a mostly healthy attitude towards the past, there are still events he cannot let go of.

Another character is Ikenna Okoro, one of James’ former colleagues. Ikenna used to be a sociology professor and was very outspoken about social issues. For a long time, James believed that Ikenna was dead, but, apparently, he escaped to Sweden during the Nigerian civil war. Unlike James, Ikenna seems to have a lot of regrets, which is why he tends to cling to the past.

James Nwoye

Outer characterization

James Nwoye is the main character and narrator of the short story “Ghosts” by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. He is seventy-three years old and used to be a professor of mathematics. He also worked for t...