Characters

The main characters of the short story “My Mother, the Crazy African” by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie are Lin and her mother. Lin is a teenager who tries to distance herself from her Nigerian heritage and attempts to act like an American to be accepted by her friends. In contrast, Lin’s mother is a traditional woman who is connected to her Nigerian roots and tries to impose them on her family. The story mainly looks at the conflict between the two characters, which illustrates the clash between American and Nigerian values. 

Another important character is Cathy, Lin’s American friend, who admires Nigerian culture and encourages Lin to take pride in her heritage. Matt, Lin’s boyfriend, is a superficial American teenager who is only interested in Lin sexually. 

You can read a detailed characterization of Lin and her mother on the following pages.