Clara is an educated, urban, middle-class woman whom Obi first meets at a dance in England. She is so beautiful that Obi feels awkward around her and accidentally steps on her toes, causing her not to dance with him again. By chance, they end up on the same boat from England to Nigeria, where they share a romantic journey. As a nurse, Clara helps the patients on the boat, and to Obi, she seems angelic. He confesses his love to her during the trip. Clara is practical and independent, and her relationship with Obi reveals various facets of her personality. From their first conversation on the boat, she shows a caring side, even though she finds his interest in poetry boring, and is still willing to listen. She also demonstrates a willingness to compromise by meeting with people Obi cares about, even if she doesn’t like them. Clara’s actions, like shopping in the slums or offering money to Obi when he’s in trouble, reveal a generous side of her, despite occasionally being spoiled.
Despite being a strong and independent character, Clara is burdened by her past as an osu, which carries a heavy social stigma. This makes her relationship with Obi challenging. Although Obi claims not to care about her status, his mother’s strict ultimatum forces him to choose between Clara and his family, leading to a painful breakup. After the breakup, Clara’s health deteriorates following a painful abortion. She refuses to see Obi after this, sinking into a deep depression. Clara feels rejected and abandoned when Obi arranges for the abortion instead of marrying her, and she can’t forgive him for it. Unfortunately, the abortion goes wrong, and Clara spends weeks in the hospital.
In Igbo culture, marrying an osu is considered one of the worst taboos. Obi initially believed that, as Christians, his parents would be more flexible about this, but they were still deeply rooted in traditional beliefs. Through Clara’s character, Achebe highlights a complex issue in Nigerian society. Although the osu caste existed before colonialism, it continues to divide Nigerian society. Marrying an osu is seen as a mark of shame and leprosy within the family, something Isaac fears for his own family.
Obi’s relationship with Clara is also fraught with tension. There are differences in their interests, as Obi, who enjoys poetry, wishes Clara shared this interest, while she prefers going to the movies. Later, when Clara reveals her osu status to Obi, she is visibly upset, understanding that her social status makes marriage to him impossible. From the start, Clara and Obi’s romance was built on unstable ground, shaped by societal pressures and personal conflicts.