Modern vs. Traditional
The characters of Changes live their lives splitbetween two poles. They are modern, well-educated figures who nonethelesstry and maintain a strong connection to their traditional cultural roots andvalues. Esi, the primary figure in the novel, is the best example of thetension between modern and traditional values. She is a remarkablyindependent woman dedicated to her career as a government official. As such,she has a hard time accepting the traditional roles defined by her culturefor a woman. She places a higher value on her career and her own personalfulfillment than on playing the role of a proper wife. This tension leadsdirectly to her divorce with her first husband, Oko, who wants her to be atraditional African wife.
At the same time, Esi is also still clearly attached to the values shelearned while growing up. She allows herself to become a second wife to Ali,and she performs all of the necessary rituals that her culture dictates.Like Esi, Ali tries to bridge the gap between the world in which his elderswere raised and his own modern lifestyle. The ensuing tension and unofficialdivorce that surround his second marriage highlight the limited degree towhich traditional values can be upheld in modern times.
The Ripple effect of Changes
The title of the novel, Changes: A Love Story, refers to the numerous personal and culturaltransformations that lie at the heart of the narrative. The changes thatoccur throughout the course of the novel take place both at the characterlevel and at the societal level. At the time of the novel, Ghana hadrecently achieved its political independence. The country is changingpolitically, economically, and culturally. Similarly, Esi achievesher own independence from her husband and marriage.Consequently, she becomes free to pursue her own ambitions without a familyor a husband to restrict her. In a sense, she has transformed herself into amodel of the modern woman: she is not only financially stable but alsocompletely independent. Esi’s new independence is also symbolic of a largerchange occurring within African societies. As women like Esi have anincreasing number of educational and professional opportunities available tothem, their roles both in the home and in society inevitably change.They are no longer simply wives and mothers who are dedicatedto their own ambitions.
The Power of Education
All of the major characters in the novel are well-educated. Theireducation is not only the mark of their place in society but also an ironicand elusive symbol that signifies both change and stasis at the same time.The two primary lovers in the novel, Esi and Ali, are also the most highlyeducated. Esi holds a master’s degree, and Ali has studied in France andEngland. Upon hearing of Ali’s second marriage, the first question that hiswife, Fusena, asks him is whether or not the woman has a university degree.This question highlights the degree to which education symbolizes progress,modernity, and independence for the women of the novel.
For Esi, her education enables her to have a well-paying job that cansecure her independence. It is precisely that independence that attracts Alito her, and it is the same independence that earns Esi the scorn of herfirst husband’s family. Esi’s education sets her apart from traditionalAfrican culture, making her feel alienated from her mother and grandmother,neither of whom can understand her attitudes towards marriage and work. Aliis as educated as Esi, and like her, he struggles to balance the two worldsin which he lives. When Ali proposes to his elders that he take a secondwife, they are shocked. For them, Ali’s education has propelled him into anew world that does not allow for such actions.
