The culture perceives ghosts as apparitions that appear in the darkness to petrify the living. Adichie's interpretation of ghosts, however, transcends the literal. In “Ghosts,” the real ghosts are the memories that haunt us. James' past trauma transforms into memories, ultimately altering his identity. These memories interrupt his life, pushing him to recognize the suffering he has repressed. This traps James between the past and the present, resulting in a fractured sense of self. James's change in identity allows him to accept the unreal and deviate from his logically based beliefs. During the war and its aftermath, James recognizes his helplessness. This change in control changes his approach to corruption. Trauma, regardless of its neglect, transforms James' perception of culture, power, and spirituality. Weaving together past and present, Adichie highlights the effect of suffering on identity. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay Suffering shifts James' identity to the boundary between past and present. He does not fully engage in the current moment, nor accept the trauma of his past. Adichie constantly shifts between her memories and the present narrative, thus reinforcing James's fractured sense of self. When Ikenna asks about Zik, James avoids the consequences of the trauma. “'The war has taken Zik,' I said in Igbo. Talking about death in English has always had a disturbing purpose for me” (Adichie 4). James longs for the time before suffering, unable to express his pain aloud. His differentiation between English and Igbo reinforces this disparity. Just as he feels trapped on the periphery of two cultures, he remains stuck between past and present. As Nkiru, the university, and the citizens move forward, the past isolates James. He detaches himself from his community, simultaneously detaching himself from the present. This detachment lends itself to James's narrative. A repressed sense of self forces James to relate everyday events to the suffering of his past. In this way, detached autobiography allows him to process and reflect effectively. James's developing identity translates into his spirituality. Through Ebere's ghost, Adichie illustrates the impact of trauma on beliefs. After experiencing loss, James turns away from rationality to enjoy Ebere's comforting presence. The role of a professor requires a factual perspective, thus triggering Ikenna's doubt. This response mirrors James' previous identity. James reflects, “We are the educated ones, taught to keep our boundaries of what is considered real” (Adichie 6). James takes a critical tone towards an ideology based on reason. It mocks the assumption that education cannot coexist with spirituality. Through suffering, James's thought system evolves beyond the tangible. His feelings of isolation and loss manifest themselves in the ghost of Ebere. In this sense, it serves as a coping mechanism. James's detached autobiography seamlessly transforms the reader from the real to the unreal. His reliable narration makes the reader have difficulty deciding Ebere's reality. James's evolving beliefs, supported by his perspective, favor his eventual acceptance. Although James admits his helplessness, he looks to the future with hope. He recognizes the futility of fixing a broken system and finds peace in this acceptance. James no longer wants to rebel as he did during the war, but rather accepts corruption.