Skip to main content

Is Michael Obi a villain or a hero?

While Michael Obi is not really a hero or a villain, he comes closest to being a villain. He hopes to be a hero, bringing modern ideas to the villagers; he acts, however, with "misguided zeal," and to the villagers, he would likely be seen as a villain. 


Michael Obi, who has just been named headmaster of the Ndume School, sees the school as "backward in every sense of the word." He is young, energetic,...

While Michael Obi is not really a hero or a villain, he comes closest to being a villain. He hopes to be a hero, bringing modern ideas to the villagers; he acts, however, with "misguided zeal," and to the villagers, he would likely be seen as a villain. 


Michael Obi, who has just been named headmaster of the Ndume School, sees the school as "backward in every sense of the word." He is young, energetic, and modern and hopes to bring a positive change to the village. Yet his inability to respect the villagers and their customs and beliefs shows arrogance and makes him appear as more of a villain to the community.


Despite the fact that the footpath has sacred importance to the villagers, Obi insists on blocking the pathway with sticks and barbed wire. When a villager explains that the path is used by the dead to depart and visit the living and by children being born, Obi responds, "The whole purpose of our school [...] is to eradicate just such beliefs."


While Obi believes that he is acting admirably by teaching the children to laugh at the ideas of their ancestors, he is being insensitive to the culture and heritage of the community he has entered by trampling upon their customs, just as the villagers trample upon the schoolyard.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

How and why does James Gatz become Jay Gatsby? Describe the young Gatsby/Gatz.

James Gatz, a poor Midwestern boy of probable Jewish lineage, becomes Jay Gatsby, a presumed WASP and wealthy socialite, when he moves to New York City and acquires his fortune. It is wealth that has allowed Gatz to transform himself into Gatsby. However, those who know his background (e.g., Daisy and Tom Buchanan) never allow him to forget that he is nouveau riche -- that is, an upstart who has just recently made his fortune,... James Gatz, a poor Midwestern boy of probable Jewish lineage, becomes Jay Gatsby, a presumed WASP and wealthy socialite, when he moves to New York City and acquires his fortune. It is wealth that has allowed Gatz to transform himself into Gatsby. However, those who know his background (e.g., Daisy and Tom Buchanan) never allow him to forget that he is nouveau riche -- that is, an upstart who has just recently made his fortune, whereas they arose from well-to-do families. Gatz became Gatsby through determination and discipline. At the end of the novel, the narr...
Post a Comment
Read more

Explain and discuss how the definitions of freedom change for the nation, for the freedmen and for southern whites after the Civil War.

After the Civil War, the definition of freedom changed in the nation, as slavery was ended with the 13th Amendment to the Constitution in 1865. The practice of slavery was disallowed, but definition of the freedom that would take its place was a subject of controversy, ongoing debate, and even violence in the decades to come.  For freedmen, freedom often meant reconciling with their families, who were broken up by slavery; choosing which church to... After the Civil War, the definition of freedom changed in the nation, as slavery was ended with the 13th Amendment to the Constitution in 1865. The practice of slavery was disallowed, but definition of the freedom that would take its place was a subject of controversy, ongoing debate, and even violence in the decades to come.  For freedmen, freedom often meant reconciling with their families, who were broken up by slavery; choosing which church to belong to without being ordered to attend religious services (or not to attend) by their mast...
Post a Comment
Read more

What gift did Della buy for Jim and why in "The Gift of the Magi" by O. Henry?

Della buys Jim a watch fob because his watch is his most prized possession. Della and Jim Young do not have much money. Despite this, Della really wants to buy Jim a good Christmas present. She is even willing to sell her hair to get him a nice gift. This is ironic because we learn Della and Jim both highly prize her hair. Now, there were two possessions of the James Dillingham Youngs in which... Della buys Jim a watch fob because his watch is his most prized possession. Della and Jim Young do not have much money. Despite this, Della really wants to buy Jim a good Christmas present. She is even willing to sell her hair to get him a nice gift. This is ironic because we learn Della and Jim both highly prize her hair. Now, there were two possessions of the James Dillingham Youngs in which they both took a mighty pride. One was Jim's gold watch that had been his father's and his grandfather's. The other was Della's hair.  Della is still willing to sell her hair so she can b...
Post a Comment
Read more