Narrator and point of view

The short story “Imitation” by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie is told by a third-person narrator. The narrator is outside the story and observes what Nkem goes through.

Throughout the story, the narrator adopts Nkem’s perspective of the events: “Nkem is staring at the bulging, slanted eyes of the Benin mask on the living room mantel as she learns about her husband’s girlfriend” (p. 18, ll. 1-2). In this way, the narrator shares what Nkem thinks and feels:

She tries to visualize Obiora, but she can’t because she is not sure if he is at home, in his car, somewhere else. And then she wonders if he is alone, or if he is with the girl with the short curly hair. Her mind wanders to the bedroom in Nigeria, hers and Obiora’s, that still feels like a hotel room every Ch...