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Obi Achebe's No Longer At Ease

1028 Words5 Pages

Caught between two ever- changing societies, Obi Okonkwo is No Longer at Ease. This title is the second book of the well-known “African trilogy” by the Nigerian novelist Chinua Achebe. Concerned about the socio-political matters of African societies, his novel unveils a very skilful depiction of Nigeria during European imperialism. Achebe focuses on the growth of his protagonist Obi, to establish a major theme of the impact of British colonialism on morality, language and culture. The presence of British colonizers in Nigeria caused a drastic shift in their mores and beliefs. The question of morality is best exemplified through the growth of the main character, Obi Okonkwo. After the death of his mother, “shame and guilt filled his heart. Yesterday her mother has been put into the ground and he couldn’t keep as much as one vigil for her” (Achebe147). Obi didn’t attend his mother’s burials because of the financial costs it would include. However, his attitude underlies the conflict in which he is to control his feelings and choices. When in England, he opened himself to the danger of being driven in someone else’s culture, thus the behaviour he adopted was subconsciously not in line with the Nigerian life. Therefore, Obi’s discomfort is just the fallout of the two worlds in which he navigates because “He has no following” (Achebe5). His perception of what is right or wrong is then cancelled out and the gap between vice and virtue turns out to be very

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