Korede’s Lies

Korede’s lies symbolize the potential destructiveness of familial loyalty. Ever since Korede’s childhood, she was told to help and protect her younger sister. So, when Ayoola began to secretly murder people years later, Korede felt obligated to help Ayoola cover up these crimes and keep them secret. Korede is never able to bring herself to expose Ayoola’s crimes, as she remains inextricably bound by her sense of familial obligation.

Murder

The murders committed by Ayoola may symbolize her sociopathic nature, but they may also be interpreted as a type of symbolic rebellion against the injustices of the patriarchy. On one hand, Ayoola’s crimes are immoral in that she murders innocent men and feels no remorse. However, the novel implies that the first murder she ever committed may have been the murder of her abusive father, which recontextualizes the killings as...