SUMMARY OF “DEAD MEN’S PATH” BY CHINUA ACHEBE

SUMMARY OF “DEAD MEN’S PATH” BY CHINUA ACHEBE

AUTHOR: CHINUA ACHEBE.

GENRE: PROSE

          The prose is set in a secondary school somewhere in Ani village. It is about a passionate, proud, fanatic, intelligent and zealous young man named 'Mr. Michael Obi' and a 'thoroughfare.'

        Mr. Obi who is the protagonist in the novel is an educated young teacher and is seen to be pivotal amongst other teachers. He is appointed by the mission authorities to serve as the headmaster in ‘Ndume Central School’-which is seen as unpropitious and unprogressive. He is seen to be energetic and filled with enthusiasm. He becomes proud following his appointment. He is promoted to that rank in January 1940 -which marks the time his hope is fulfilled.

            However,  His wife’s name is Mrs. Nancy. She feels as a queen amongst other wives of other teachers, but later feels despondent and envelope with fear as she learn that there might be no ‘wives’ but 'unmarried young female teachers.' 

           Furthermore, when they get to the school, Michael, having well meaning intention, decides together with his wife to refurbish the entire school especially the compound and to lead it to an elevated position. But then, he does not regard the villagers and their tradition. Meanwhile,there exist a thoroughfare in the school compound which the villagers makes use of. The road which is in existence for a very long time is believed to be the path through which the dead departs and their ancestors visits them. It connects the village shrine with the burial place. It is this footpath that Michael decides to close having seen an old woman from the village walk right across the compound. The priest of Ani later came to him and informed him that the road is there before his fathers and his coming. 

         Moreover, The priest of Ani later came to him and informs him that the road is there before his fathers and his coming. He therefore warn him to re-open the route to avoid trouble, the 'wrath of the god of Ani' and for peace to reign. He ends his sound warning thus: “let the Hawk perch and let the Eagle perch.” Very arrogant, Michael defies the warning on the grounds that "dead men do not require footpaths."

                Three days later, Mr. Obi woke up in the morning and finds the fence and shrubs round the school which is planted torn out, the Sowers killed, even to the extent that one of the school buildings is pulled down. To cap it all, that same day, the white supervisor comes for inspection and writes a very repugnant and unpleasant report on the condition of the school buildings and outbuildings including the ongoing tribal war situation between the school and villagers.

BY NWANI UCHENNA WILLIAMS,

UNIVERSITY OF NIGERIA.