Viet, Leonie, Alex, Raphael, Yannick 1 06 December 2013

Handout: Dead Mens Path Chinua Achebe

1. Summary
Michael Obi, a pivotal teacher, becomes headmaster and wants the school compound to be modern and delightful. He closes the old and holy path of the villagers which crosses the school compound. The next day the village priest Ani tries to convince him of making a compromise because the path is really important to the villagers and their traditions. But Michael refuses it in intolerance. Two days later a girl dies in the village and the next morning the school premises are pulled down. Therefore the white Supervisor writes a bad report about Obis enthusiastic aims.

2. Characters
Micheal Obi 26 years old ambitious school teacher employed by the mission authorities Western education colonialist mindset His duty: enlighten his fellow Nigerians + establishing a colonial order native beliefs = narrow views and superstition pivotal teacher enforcing his progressive views by referring to the regulations arrogance and intolerance Nancy Obi Michael's young wife (married for 2 years) proud of her husband regarding herself as modern eager to set ''the fashion in everything'' (p. 118, l. 22) calling herself Queen of the school (p.118, l.20) supporting her husband as much as possible wants to be admired for her achievements self-centered, conceited only interested in the outward appearance of things The Ani old village priest (Ibo religion) opponent to Michael Obi familiar with the villagers' way of thinking tolerant, interested in dialogue treats other people with respect wants Obi to respect the villagers ready for compromise

Let the hawk perch and let the eagle perch(p.121, l.7f.)

3. Narrative Style
omniscient third person narrator mainly Obis point of view frequently used stylistic devices metaphors taken out of a religious context exaggerations irony* / sarcasm *Micheal Obi Foundation for irony accomplished secondary school student Pivotal teacher should be successful YET, fails. over-confident in doing a better job than predecessors making a mistake other "old and superannuated" ones wouldn't have YET, fails. what he takes pride in Downfall insistence in closing path to save report nasty report (p.121, l.22) modernization Backwardization: "tribal-war situation (p.121, l.23)

Viet, Leonie, Alex, Raphael, Yannick 2 06 December 2013

4. Themes
Importance of cultural respect and awareness: The headmaster ignorance of the local tribes tradition leads to the utter destroy of his career nasty report from the Supervisor The gap between African and Western Ideologies African values: Our dead relatives depart by it and our ancestors visit us by it. (p.120, l.27f.) Western values: Dead men do not require footpaths.(p.121, l.2) The consequences of modernization The headmasters attempt to rid the village of superstitious beliefs tribal-war situation(p.121, l.22)

5. Symbols
The Path connection between the village shrine [and] their place of burial (p.120, l.2f.) tradition and religion of the tribe spiritual support Barbed wire the modern societys refusal to accept traditional culture. stamping out of superstitious beliefs difficulty of coexistence between modern and tradition Flowers beautifying the new school system frailty of the roadblock trampled by the long-held animist beliefs

6. Intentions
1. It is important to move on, to develop and to be modern, as the change the school undergoes is actually positive. But progress doesnt automatically mean the devaluation of old and traditional things. 2. The world is missing of tolerance. Above all, the various religions get into fights with each other. They want to prove which one is the right one without accepting other opinions or making compromises. This lack of tolerance sometimes even causes wars or the death of hundreds of people regarding the suicide attacks committed because of religious conviction.

7. Sources
Chinua Achebe, Dead MenS Path from the University Herald, Ibadan (1935). Copyright 1972, 1973 by Chinua Achebe