What Napoleon Could Not Do Summary

“Where do I belong?” This question echoes through DK Nnuro’s What Napoleon Could Not Do, a tale of identity, ambition, and the chasms between family members separated by the Atlantic Ocean.

The Meaning of the Hyphen

The identity “African-American” is deeply complex, symbolized by a hyphen that suggests both connection and separation. This underscores the novel's exploration of belonging.

Nnuro delves into the tension between identities—African and American—while portraying characters who navigate these fractured spaces. The term “African-American” itself implies a history of pain and alienation, evoking the displacement and denial of a true homeland. This theme serves as the underpinning of the characters’ struggles for identity.

The hyphen feels less like a bridge and more like an ellipsis—a space of uncertainty. Belinda’s and Jacob's lives embody this ambiguity. While Belinda seeks success in America to prove herself and her worth, Jacob remains in Ghana grappling with what his identity means. Their disjointed paths reveal the difficulty of fully embracing any singular place or identity.

Examples

• Belinda’s unwavering pursuit of a green card highlights her need to feel validated as an American.
• Jacob’s failed attempts to secure a visa epitomize his struggle with self-worth and belonging.
• The separation of the Nti siblings by an ocean reflects the physical and emotional distances tied to identity.

America: The Land of Dreams and Disappointment

For many, America symbolizes possibility, but Nnuro illustrates how it also crushes those dreams in subtle and open ways.

In the novel, America is a source of both hope and despair. Belinda sees it as a land of opportunities, and her entire life becomes a testament to achieving what others cannot. For Jacob, America represents his deepest failure—a life and marriage destroyed by his inability to access its promises. Nnuro captures the duality: the highs of great ambition are met with the lows of deep disappointment.

America’s allure hinges on its ability to grant access to “being able,” but its rejection can feel like the ultimate betrayal. Belinda fights not just for her place in America but also for the validation that her successes matter. Meanwhile, Jacob's rejection by the American system drives him into bitterness and nihilism, undercutting his sense of self.

Examples

• Belinda's marriage to Wilder starts as a transaction to keep her place in America.
• Jacob’s financial dependence on Patricia highlights his inability to make his American dream a reality.
• Wilder's cynicism about American highs and lows contrasts Belinda's hopeful outlook.

Sibling Rivalry as a Battleground

The struggle between Belinda and Jacob reveals how family dynamics can deepen individual insecurities and ambitions.

The Nti siblings’ relationship revolves around competition. Belinda’s success in America, juxtaposed with Jacob’s stagnation in Ghana, fuels resentment. Jacob’s failures are thrown into sharper relief by Belinda’s achievements. This sibling rivalry becomes a destructive force, with Jacob rejecting the very life Belinda tried to gift him by arranging his ill-fated marriage.

This interplay reflects the pressures within families where accomplishments are measured against one another. Nnuro shows how such rivalries amplify desires for self-definition, but they also distort reality, eroding familial bonds.

Examples

• Belinda arranges a marriage for Jacob, only for him to fail repeatedly to secure a visa.
• Jacob’s scorn for Belinda’s success grows after his divorce exposes his dependency and personal shortcomings.
• Alfred, the next generation, acts as the Nti family's peacekeeper amidst these conflicts.

The Illusion of Independence

Success often comes at hidden costs, as shown by Belinda and Wilder's transactional marriage and emotional distance.

On the surface, Belinda has achieved everything one might desire in America: education, wealth, and a stable marriage. However, her union with Wilder is grounded in practicality, not love. Their relationship mirrors Belinda's broader life—seemingly perfect from a distance but complex and fraught up close. Wilder, too, carries emotional scars and a sense of detachment shaped by his traumatic experiences.

Belinda’s struggles remind readers of the personal sacrifices made in pursuit of ambitious dreams. Relationships are reduced to means to an end, often at the expense of deeper connections.

Examples

• Belinda’s student visa expiration pushes her into a marriage of convenience with Wilder.
• Wilder smashes champagne bottles on Obama’s election night, expressing his deep distrust of America’s hopeful symbols.
• Belinda’s alienation from her family is exacerbated by her need to maintain appearances in America.

Wilder’s Wounds and Wisdom

Wilder’s backstory highlights how trauma can both isolate and connect individuals.

Through Wilder, Nnuro brings the psychological cost of war to light. His experiences in Vietnam, his years in Laos, and his guilt over a child’s death shape a man who is emotionally distant yet profoundly wise. Wilder’s life underscores the deep wounds left by separation—not just from loved ones, but also from one’s own soul.

Despite his pain, Wilder becomes a bridge between Belinda, Jacob, and their fractured family. Using his own understanding of distance and brokenness, he works quietly to mend bonds that seem irreparably torn.

Examples

• Wilder’s voluntary enlistment in the Vietnam War contrasts his privileged background.
• His marriage to a Laotian woman and eventual loss of their child haunt him.
• Wilder’s growing closeness to Jacob hints at his own desire for reconciliation.

Ghana: A Return to Roots

The novel juxtaposes the allure of America with the grounding simplicity of Ghana, providing a foil for Belinda’s and Jacob’s ambitions.

Returning to Ghana for Alfred’s funeral forces Belinda to confront what she left behind. In juxtaposition to America’s cold rejection, Ghana offers comfort, familiarity, and opportunity. It’s where Jacob has always remained, and for Wilder, it becomes a land worth investing in.

Ghana shows that “being successful” doesn’t have to align with Western ideals. It provides space for reconciliation and new beginnings, allowing characters like Wilder and Belinda to redefine what home and happiness mean.

Examples

• Mr. Nti’s pride in Ghanaian traditions is shown through the divorce rituals.
• Wilder’s interest in harnessing Ghana’s resources reflects a desire for meaningful contributions.
• Belinda weighs the emotional cost of leaving America for Ghana.

Ambition Meets Betrayal

Ambition drives Belinda and Jacob, but it also blinds them to the consequences of their choices.

Belinda’s pursuit of American success isolates her from her family and fosters Jacob’s anger. Jacob, likewise, destroys what Belinda builds for him by sabotaging his marriage, partly to spite her. Their ambitions ultimately lead to a sense of betrayal on both sides, showcasing how personal goals can strain relationships.

Their estrangement demonstrates how ambition, while admirable, can alienate. It is only through connection and humility that they find a path forward.

Examples

• Belinda’s absence at their mother’s funeral becomes a focal point of Jacob’s resentment.
• Jacob’s lie to the American embassy about being gay sabotages his visa applications.
• Alfred’s death provides a moment of reckoning for the entire family.

Hope Through Small Gestures

The ending suggests that even fractured relationships can begin to heal through small, meaningful steps.

Wilder’s efforts to connect with Jacob provide a model for how estranged individuals might reconcile. By attributing his idea about turbines to Jacob, Wilder gives him a sense of purpose and self-worth. Small gestures like this can rebuild trust, showing that reconciliation doesn’t require grand gestures—just consistent effort and understanding.

Belinda and Jacob have not reconciled fully, but the novel ends with hope. Their story serves as a reminder that healing often begins with listening and small acts of kindness.

Examples

• Wilder lies to Jacob about the turbine idea, fostering goodwill.
• Jacob’s request for Wilder to mediate between him and Belinda is a step toward mending their bond.
• The family’s shared mourning over Alfred brings them briefly together.

The Role of Proximity and Distance

Nnuro shows how both distance and closeness can shape perceptions, relationships, and self-understanding.

Distance shapes Belinda’s idealization of America and Jacob’s resentment of his sister. Proximity, however, doesn’t guarantee understanding, as seen in Belinda’s and Wilder’s strained marriage. The novel suggests that true connection requires effort, whether characters are separated by miles or sitting in the same room.

It’s the recognition of shared humanity, rather than physical closeness, that ultimately begins to mend these fractured relationships.

Examples

• Jacob hears his father praise Belinda from the next room, amplifying his feelings of inadequacy.
• Belinda struggles to understand Wilder’s America while failing to bridge her own family gaps.
• Alfred’s role as a family unifier shows the importance of empathy.

Takeaways

1. Cultivate understanding through small, intentional gestures that demonstrate goodwill, especially in strained relationships.
2. Reflect on the ways ambition and personal goals may impact relationships with loved ones.
3. Recognize that true reconciliation starts with humility and a willingness to see things from another’s perspective.