Symbolism in the Arrangers of Marriage

In the novel The Thing Around Your Neck by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie the short story called The Arrangers of Marriage contains multiple symbols including the American cookbook. After their neighbor comments on the smell of foreign food in the complex Dave immediately goes and buys an American cookbook for Agatha to learn. This American cookbook represents Dave's wanting to blend in to America. From the very beginning of the story Dave attempts to erase everything that has to do with his Nigerian heritage. While Dave does appear to enjoy the traditional Nigerian meal," even smacking his lips like Uncle Ike sometimes did to show Aunty Ada how pleased he was withher cooking," (Adiche, 179),  he does not want her to cook like a Nigerian again because people took notice. He does not want to be known as "those foreigners" but a part of a uniform machine. The American cookbook is a way to become part of the machine.  The American cookbook also represents Agatha's disappointment in the marriage. As she attempts to cook American food she complains how she did not expect life to be like this, " Another thing the arrangers of marriage did not tell you- the struggle of brown beef in oil." (Adiche, 179) Agatha was told she won the lottery in marrying a American doctor. It was every Nigerian girl's dream. However the marriage has only been filled with disappointment as her Nigerian ways are being pushed away for a shallower American culture.