Chinua Achebe’s “Deadmen’s Path” is a story about why change
should not be militant, but instead be change should be gradual in an attempt to
keep the peace with others who hold opposing views.
1.
Michael
Obi is a progressive and enthusiastic young headmaster who has no respect for
the elder generation or “old ways”
a.
“He was out spoken in his condemnation of the
narrow views of these older and often less-educated ones.” (269)
b.
Michael
Obi’s believes the views of the older ones are narrow, but his unwillingness to
accommodate them and co exist shows that Michael Obi’s views are narrow
themselves.
2.
In the
end, Michael militant and rigid values are counter-productive to making his
dreams a reality.
a.
“The
beautiful hedges were torn up not just near the path but right round the
school, the flowers trampled to death and one of the school buildings pulled
down....That day, the white supervisor came to inspect the school and wrote a
nasty report on the state of the premises but more seriously about the “tribal –war
situation developing between the school and the village , arising in part from
the misguided zeal of the new headmaster” (271)
b.
Not only did Michaels progressive get destroy because
of his militant attitude toward change, but he also lost support from the
Government Education Officer, and the towns people.
3.
Michael
had the opportunity to avoid the destruction of his progressive if he could
compromise.
a.
“Let the
hawk perch and let the eagle perch” (270)
b.
Mr Obi is blatantly rude to the village priest
of Ani because the priest values are contrary to Mr Obi’s own.
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