On Monday of Last Week

This study guide will help you analyze the short story “On Monday of Last Week” by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. You can also find a summary of the text, as well as inspiration for interpreting it and putting it into perspective.

Excerpt from the study guide:

Foreshadowing is used in the story when Kamara visits Tracy in her basement and Tracy seems cold, unlike during her first meeting with Kamara: “There was something in her demeanor that Kamara feared was an irritated impatience.” This foreshadows that Kamara has misunderstood the situation and Tracy will soon reveal her lack of interest in Kamara. Another foreshadowing is Neil correcting Josh that Kamara is not family. This can be considered to foreshadow Tracy’s lack of interest in Kamara, and how Kamara is not as close to the family as she initially imagines.

The climax of the story takes place when Tracy and Maren meet, and Tracy compliments Maren in the same way she did Kamara:

‘You have the most unusual eyes. Violet.’ Tracy was still holding Maren’s hand. ‘Oh. Thank you!’ Maren giggled nervously.
‘They really are violet.’
‘Oh … yes, I think so.’
‘Have you ever been an artist’s model?’

This is also a plot twist in the narrative. Kamara has been imagining that she was special to Tracy, and they will begin a relationship. However, the meeting between Tracy and Maren proves her wrong.

The ending shows that Kamara understands that she has misjudged the situation and feels discouraged and sad. She eats a cookie, which signals that she has lost her motivation to stay fit following her disappointment. Although this can be considered a resolution to the events in the story, we do not know how this disappointment will affect Kamara in the long run.