Dead man s path simply by chinua achebe

Chinua Achebe, Nigeria

This account by Chinua Achebe gives the discord between world-viewsand value systems. Dead Mans Path is placed in Nigeria in 1949. It is onthe subject of your man known as Michael Obi who is the modern, enthusiasticand wholehearted headmaster of an underprivileged and disadvantagedschool. This story explores the effects of Western european customs andbeliefs on classic African tradition.

Michael Obi is the new headmaster of Ndume Central College. The Missionauthorities selected him for the task as they wished a young andenergetic man to manage it. Michael is a committed twenty-six yearold man. His wife, named Nancy, is slightly acquisitive butnevertheless extremely kind and considerate to her husband: For a few mins she became sceptical regarding the new college, but itwas only for a couple of minutes. Her very little personal bad luck could blindher to her partners happy prospective customers. Michael is definitely a passionate person with many suggestions that could helptransform the school. He believes in the modernisation andtransformation of outdated beliefs. This individual seems to have recently been infected byEuropean customs.

The word infected is used, as it may have beenthought of a negative thing then, in Photography equipment culture, to trust in modernmethods: In their 2 yrs of marriage she had become completely infectedby his enthusiasm for contemporary methods. Jordan had two aims to get the school: A top standard of education forthe children, and then for the school mixture to be changed into a place ofbeauty. He as well decided what kinds of teachers ought to be employed atthe school. He chose that most teachers should be young and single. He thought that this approach, all the instructors would invest their timework and strength in to their very own job but not be distracted my othercommitments and people.

His better half Nancy was against this idea as shewanted the instructors to be wedded so that various other wives can envy herposition and she would set the fashion in everything. This is a keyexample of Michaels wifes self-centredness. Michael jordan managed to enhance the school gardens into a place ofbeauty. 1 day while having been admiring his work, this individual saw an old womanwalking along a disused path that ran through the school substance. This irritated Michael and he inquired one person in his personnel about it. This individual found out that this path is apparently extremely important and blessedas it attaches the small town shrine for the cemetery. Jordan was veryselfless at this moment and decided to close down the path, as in afew days a white inspector would be coming to visit the school. Jordan felt which the school couldnt be used like a through fare. Soon the path was shut, and blacklisted of with barbed line.

A number of days later on the town priest contacted the headmaster. The clergyman talkedwith Jordan for a while. This individual wanted Michael to reopen the path. Youget the impression from the priest that he’s a very failing and elderlyman who doesnt wish to commence argument, but merely acquire his opinion andthoughts throughout to Michael. The priest believed which the path was verysacred while our lifeless relatives depart by it, and our forefathers visit usby it. This really is a key example of traditionalist values: the path is definitely ancientand sacred and dates back a long time, it truly is of great importance tothe village as it is the link from the dead relatives to the villageshrine. Michael responds for the priest which has a satisfied laugh upon his face. He tells the priest which the whole concept of a dead guys path, is precisely what he can teaching the children not to have confidence in.

Eileen believes the fact that whole concept of a dead mans footpath can be completelyfictional, imaginary and great. The priest responds simply by tellingMichael a few words of wisdom: Area hawk perch and let the skull cap perch. This can be basically sayingthat if you do what I say, we need to be by peace. The way does noharm, you continue with your school, and let the route be reopened. Thepriest then leaves Michael jordan alone. I believe he does this as he wishesfor Michael to reflect on what he has just said. A number of days later a woman died while giving delivery to a child. A diviner(spiritualist) prescribes weighty sacrifices to propitiate ancestorsinsulted by the fence. This as a result means that the diviner is usually angrythat the road has been sealed, and blames the loss of life of the females onthe final of the course.

The diviner thinks that ancestors and forefathers and deadpeople have been insulted by the preventing of their path. Thus, Michaels modernised school is taken down as well as the gardens aretrampled upon. The inspector then came to go to and composed a very meanreport about the college and the scenario between the school and thevillage. This account shows all of us how modernization can battle with traditionalistvalues. The seal of the way clashes with the views with the peopleand the priest.