Speech, Silence, and Power

In Speak No Evil, speech and silence are portrayed as acts that have moral implications, contribute to or retard the ability to mourn, create or destroy intimacy, and reflect power dynamics within relationships.

Iweala introduces the discussion of speech and silence in the title of the novel and in the epigraphs. The title of the novel may well be a reference to the admonishment in Titus 3:2 (King James Version) to "speak evil of no man." In the novel, condemning speech as evil is an accusation of Niru that is made by Obi, Reverend Olumide, and Bishop Okereke on the basis of their Christianity. Niru's supposedly "evil" speech is that he is gay. From the perspective of these men, Niru's ability to be morally upright is a function of his ability to maintain silence about who he really is. Niru's speech and silence on...