In the short story “Dead Men’s Path” by Chinua Achebe, the theme is focused on the conflict between religious tradition and the progress of new beliefs.
In many cultures, when changes to tradition occur, normally, the core of the tradition would remain, and it would be accompanied by a new idea. Whereas, in “Dead Men’s Path”, Michael Obi, the headmaster of a school, has different religious opinions than the villagers he’s surrounded by. Therefore, would like the progression of his school to be represented by these new beliefs that inspire him.The characteristics of Michael Obi and the priest, the path, and the flowers and barbwire are all representations of the conflict in this short story.
The characterizations of Michael Obi and the priest are used to portray the conflict. Michael is well educated, progressive and modern oriented. But, most of all, he believes that moving forward with new beliefs is better than living in tradition, and this is represented when Michael states, “ The whole purpose of our school, is to eradicate just such beliefs as that” (Achebe 270).While Michael is talking to the priest, he’s trying to convey that living in the past is undesired by him, and should be by all villagers, therefore, the path passing through the school, should be reconstructed around the yard.
This could result in a more modern lifestyle for the village. Michael doesn’t like living within tradition. Michael’s way of thinking is conflicted when he’s speaking with the priest. The priest is traditional and open-minded. Although he doesn’t see eye to eye with the headmaster, he’s a receptive person.The priest said, “Let the hawk perch and let the eagle perch”(Achebe 270) to Michael; meaning, let one believe in what they want to believe in, even if you do not agree.
The priest is telling Michael they’ll have nothing to dispute over if the path gets re-opened. He explains, “we follow the practices of our fathers” (270), so, for that reason, they live within the beliefs of their ancestors. The path represents the different religious views of the priest, compared to those of Michael. The priest states to Michael that, “This path was here before you were born and before your father was born. The whole life of this village depends on it.Our dead relatives depart by it and our ancestors visit us by it.
But most important, it is the path of children coming in to be born. ”(Achebe 270). This signifies the importance of the path and its more than just for walking. The path represents the village’s tradition, heritage and the connection to their historical roots.
It is the path that connects the graveyard to the village, and the village to the past. But, Michael Obi doesn’t see the path as a connection for the villagers, he thinks it interferes, and it is shown when he said, “We cannot allow people to make a highway of our school compound” (270).He feels as if there is too much thoroughfare at the school, and also believes that “Dead men do not require footpaths”(270). Therefore, there is no need for the path to interfere when a detour can be put into place.
Michael’s purpose of the school is to eliminate the beliefs and traditions, such as the ones of the priest and villagers, and to teach the children to laugh at the ideas and make progress for new ones. Nancy Obi’s way of representing new changes is to plant flowers. It is her attempt of modernizing the location.While Michael was admiring the work of new change towards the school, he noticed an old woman from the village trample over Nancy’s flower garden.
When Michael states to a teacher, “It amazes me, that you people allowed the villagers to make use of this footpath. It is simply incredible” (Achebe 270), he immediately realizes that the villagers are disrespectful; that new beliefs are unnoticed and not cared for in the village. Michael is worried that the Government Education Officer will see villagers walking through the school as a threat.Therefore, “heavy sticks were planted closely across the path at the two places where it entered and left the school premises. These were further strengthened with barbed wire”(270).
This contributes to the atmosphere the villagers will see along the path. Also, this barrier keeps the influence of tradition out of the school and separates the village from the past and hopefully into the new beliefs that are being set. The conflict between religious and traditional views and modern, new beliefs is a type of conflict that arises daily in some cultures.Society should be known as a place for individuals to express their different beliefs, heritage, traditions and cultures.
It isn’t something to fight over, when it could be a change that makes the world a more positive place. If conflict could be resolved, society would live in unity and demise, such as the one of Michael Obi wouldn’t occur. McMahan, Elizabeth, et al. Literature and The Writing process. Canadian ed. Toronto: Pearson/Prentice Hall, 2005 Achebe, Chinua “Dead Men’s Path.
” Literature And The Writing Process. McMahan, Elizabeth, et al. Canadian ed. Toronto: Pearson/Prentice Hall, 2005.
269-271
