Structure

The short story “On Monday of Last Week” by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie begins in medias res with Kamara looking at herself in the bathroom mirror. 

The main events take place chronologically over the course of two days. However, the structure is non-linear, as it switches frequently from present to past. Kamara remembers events which happened before and which are related to the present moment. This also gives the reader the background needed to understand what is happening in the present. 

The story has a circular structure. It begins with Kamara worrying about her weight: “She would turn from side to side, examining her lumpy middle and imagining it flat as a book cover, and then she would close her eyes and imagine Tracy caressing it with those paint-stained fingers.” This tells us that Kamara wants to be fit for Tracy. The story ends with Kamara taking a cookie from Josh’s plate. Therefore, the story starts with Kamara obsessing over her weight, and it ends with her abandoning her plan to stay fit, after realizing Tracy has no real interest in her.

The story relies heavily on flashbacks. One important flashback is Kamara’s first meeting with Tracy, which is a turning point in the sto...