Michael Obi example essay topic

Dead Men's Path Chinua Achebe's "Dead Men's Path" is the story of a young teacher, Michael Obi, who is appointed a headmaster in a small village school in Algeria. Michael is full of idealistic, modern ideas about how to run a school. His intent is to demonstrate a high standard for the school's teachers to emulate. His ideas even run so far as to turn the school compound into a beautiful garden, an act that becomes his undoing.

Michael is young, passionate and too proud to see that he cannot change everything from one day to the next. He did not respect the little village's traditions and the people's belief in certain superstitions. Eventually, the villagers turn against him and destroy his entire work and career. "Dead Men's Path" teaches us that we cannot impose our ideas on a people, even with the best of intentions. Instead, we must respect and learn about the people's faith and traditions before we try to change them; we need to understand others before we can attempt to help them. And in fact, our help may not be needed.

Michael Obi, however, fails to learn this lesson. We learn this about Michael through Achebe's characterization of the protagonist, which is revealed to the reader through Michael's speech and actions, as well as through Acheve's direct observations. Obi's character is revealed through his speech. The author establishes that "he was outspoken", when he has to criticize others, especially those he believed to be "older and often less educated ones" (40). He really thinks the education system needs change and that a young teacher can do a better job than "these old and superannuated people in the teaching field" (40). Michael truly believes his ideas about how to teach and manage a school are perfect.

He cannot stand it if somebody disagree with him; he is conceited, arrogant and sarcastic as he says " 'I don't suppose the ancestors will find the little detour too burdensome" ' (40). He thinks his modern ideas about education make him superior to and smarter than the villagers. He is excessively ambitious. Michael likes being a headmaster because he enjoys the power. However, he does not use it wisely. He requires perfection from others and from himself, but he does not realize that the pursuit of perfection can itself hurt others.

He fails to realize that sometimes making an effort to get to know the people around us can lead to a more successful result. Michael also reveals his character through his actions and behavior. He does not feel any respect for the villagers or for their customs. Even though one of the teachers who lived in the village for a long time explains to Michael the importance of the footpath to the villagers, he closes it. "Heavy sticks were planted closely across the path at the two places where it entered and left the school premises" (41). His behavior with the other teacher and with the older people is disrespectful and haughty.

When he talks to the priest of the village, he has a "satisfied smile on his face" (41). He does not care about anything else beyond his own success; he just wants to prove that he can do what the "old fashioned" people cannot, and that he can make progress where no one else has. However, the headmaster is using the wrong tools to do his job. He cannot deal with the people around him and with their emotions.

Obi cannot see that these are the basic steps to make his job successful and that getting along with the people around us is a type of success. Obi's character is further revealed when the author talks about him in a direct manner. Achebe clearly describes Obi's physical condition as he says, "he was stoop-shouldered and looked frail" (40). He has "deep-set eyes, giving them an extraordinary power of penetration" (41).

From the author's description, the reader can deduce Obi's personality and can guess how he will behave in different situations in the story. The author also establishes Obi's and his wife purpose in life and Obi's goals in his job, as he tells us he "put his whole life into the work and his wife hers too. He had two aims. A high standard of teaching was insisted upon, and the school compound was to be turned into a place of beauty" (41). Chinua Achebe creates a great character of a young and conceited teacher. Through direct observations, the characters own speech and the characters interaction with other characters, the reader comes to closely know, and dislike, the distasteful character that is Michael Obi.

Michael is in essence selfish, immature and ultimately stupid. He does not trust the villager's experiences, not even a little bit. He listens to no one but himself. He haughtily believes that hard work and his modern methods are enough to successfully complete his mission at the school.

He cares little for the feelings and customs of the villagers, and instead focuses solely on his own ambition. He is selfish and does not care about others. Michael cares only about his career and in the end his headstrong ness ruins his life. Michael is unlikeable and deserved his fate.