1. DEAD MEN’S PATH
by
CHINUAACHEBE
WAN NURFATIN SYARMEMY BT. WM. AZMUDDIN D20091034408
ANIS ZULAIKHA BT. BASRAH D20091034413
ASMAAMIRA BT. HAMZAH D20091034422
NOREHA BT. ALI D20091034397

2. SETTING
• 1949 during the period when Great Britain
ruled Nigeria
• Traditional and superstitious people of a small
African village

3. THEME
Strong attachment towards tradition vs. ignorance over ancestry
1. The villagers believe that the path is
used by their dead relatives and
ancestors
2. It is the path of children coming in to
be born
3. The priest represent the villagers to
speak to Obi
4. They follow the practices of their
fathers
1. Obi never accepts the idea of the
footpath
2. He ignores all the warnings and
sticks to his decision
3. He is being cynical and takes the
warnings lightly
4. He is even suggesting on
constructing another path which will
not be in the school compound

4. ISSUES
1. Enthusiasm on carrying the duty
-Obi is described as young, energetic and full of ideas on modernizing
the school that he put his life into the work
-He has had two aims; insisting a high standard of teaching and
turning the school compound into a place of beauty
-His wife, Nancy shares the enthusiasm that she starts planning
about the school compound
-He thinks a lot about his duty that it affects his appearance

5. ISSUES
2. The practice of modern way of thinking
-Obi is being very realistic-accepting in a sensible way what is actually
possible to happen
-He questions about what has that path and the stories told got to do with
the school
-He condemns the narrow views of those older and often less educated
headmasters
-His view about the whole purpose of the school

6. ISSUES
3. The truth and existence of superstitious
belief
-The claim of the priest that the footpath is used by the ancestors to depart
and visit them
-“the whole life of the village”
-The path has been used since a very long time ago-before Obi was born and
before his father was born
-The death of the young woman is seems to be connected to the closure of
the path
-Prescription of heavy sacrifices to propitiate ancestors insulted by the fence

7. ISSUES
4. Importance of respecting each others’
views
-The priest does not object Obi’s opinion on the purpose of the school and
also the fact that dead men do not need footpath
-Obi does not even try to understand his explanation; being cynical by saying
that the ancestors will not find the little detour too burdensome
-He does not respect the villagers tradition that the villagers turn to ruin his
efforts on the school
-Nobody has the right to stop the traditions, or to suddenly imply modern
beliefs and systems to replace the old ones
-Modern society should never destroy the basis of a person's beliefs
-Progress can only be achieved in cooperation with the people concerned

8. ISSUES
1. Fear of being betrayed - Nancy
2. Incapability of doing or stopping
anything from happen – the teacher,
the priest, the villagers
3. Result of being stubborn – Obi
4. Western lifestyle – Nancy

9. SYMBOLISMS
• Obi and Nancy – progress and Western values
• The priest - traditional attitude of the villagers
• The footpath – traditions of the villagers
• Tribal war situation – the result of being
stubborn, cultural clash

10. - Progress cannot be imposed on
the respective people from above but needs to develop slowly in their
own minds but can only be supported but never enforced.
- Michael fails because he doesn’t realize how deep the traditional believes
anchor in the villagers’ minds and when he tries to eradicate and replace
them by his European Christian ways he has to face overpowering
resistance
- His lack of respect for their values stirs up a huge conflict which ultimately
leads to the failure of his project. This story is an excellent example for the
cultural clash of African and European mentality and the incapability of
both sides to respect each others differing positions.