Dead Men’s Path

“It had always been an unprogressive school, so the Mission authorities decided to send a young and energetic man to run it.”

Spoken by the narrator, this quote appears on the first page of the story and explains the motivation for Obi being sent to the countryside, as well as the attitude of the colonial authorities toward the people there. The role of missionary schools was very important to the project of British colonialism in Nigeria.

“He was outspoken in his condemnation of the narrow views of these older and often less-educated ones.”

A brief yet telling insight is given into Obi’s personality here. Not only does he have a very negative view of older and less educated teachers, but he is not shy in sharing this view with others. He is self-assured to the point of arrogance and also goes against the respect usually given to elders in his society.

“’We shall do our best,’ she replied. ‘We shall have such beautiful gardens and everything will be just modern and delightful...’ In their two years of married life she had become completely infected by his passion for ‘modern methods’ and his denigration of ‘these old and superannuated people in the teaching field who would be better employed as traders in the Onitsha market.’”

The protagonist’s wife, Nancy, is introduced through her own words and thoughts as well as through the narrator’s commentary. Here, she is seen as somewhat shallow with her focus on “beautiful gardens” that will be “delightful,” as well as someone who supports the colonial project of “modernizing” the villagers. This idea is emphasized in the quote by the repetition of the word “modern.” She is also shown to be dismissive of the current teachers, whom she judges as obsolete and better suited to work in a market.