Little Bee By Chris Cleave Character Analysis

I really enjoyed having two narrators in the novel Little Bee by Chris Cleave. In obtaining both Little Bees and Sarah's perspectives I was able to witness both characters thoughts and feelings, as well as getting to know them and the hardships they faced. Sarah, who during her marriage engaged in an affair, made me skeptical of her honesty. " Yes. Well. I. Oh. It was a last minute thing. The magazine …. You know" (Cleave 163). Sarah blatantly lied to her husband and tried to get herself out of an awkward situation with her lover. Little Bee on the hand was truthful in retelling her experiences and adversity faced in her escape and return to Nigeria. In going through immense tragedy I preferred reading Little Bees voice throughout the novel. From seeing her own sister slaughtered, to being captured and brought back to her home country, Little Bees voice was more powerful and insightful to read.

Andrew O'Rourke, Sarah's husband and a political columnist for the times has to make one of these decisions. When vacationing in Nigeria with his wife they run into Little Bee and Nkiruka. On that one fateful day, Andrew had one ultimatum, cut off his middle finger to save the sisters or give them a fate worse than death. In that moment Andrew decides to put himself first, " I won't do it, I don't believe he'll let the girls go. Look at him. He's going to kill them whatever" (Cleave 115). In putting himself first Andrew leaves the girls vulnerable and at the mercy of the men. In Andrews moment of weakness Sarah steps forward to receive the punishment instead. In contrast to Andrew, Sarah puts the sisters first and does the unimaginable. Taking the machete and chopping her middle finger off Sarah shows her bravery and compassion towards those she doesn't even