Analysis of No Longer at Ease by Achebe essays

Analysis of No Longer at Ease by Achebe essays The book No Longer at Ease by Chinua Achebe tells the story of a Nigerian man named Obi Okonkwo who struggles with cultural identity and loyalty. The story deals with many topics including nationalism, colonialism, conflict and self-identity. The novel by Achebe focuses on a young man's life and his lost connection with his African roots. Throughout the novel the author shares many themes of conflict and struggle. This struggle extends from his personal perceptions of what is right and wrong, but also addresses the conflict that exists within the country of Nigeria during the main characters youth. Within the story, a tale of "the young man's hatred for the ruling elite" comes out (Hamilton, 2002). The story takes place primarily in the setting of post-colonial Nigeria. The main character spends time both in his native country and in Europe. The main character of the novel, Obi, grows up in his native Nigeria, a country that has witnessed the spread of colonialism and mingled those traditions with the traditions of native people's living in Nigeria. In the novel, Obi travels to England in search of an education, and then returns to Nigeria only to find that his country has lost all of its "soul"(Hamilton, 2002). The European influences he recognized while attaining his education have actually permeated his native country enough to make it difficult to differentiate between Nigeria's true culture and Throughout the work, Obi finds he can't improve life for his fellow Nigerians in the manner in which he desires. He desires that his native people recognize their own culture as something to be proud of and enthusiastic about. Yet he is in conflict because he has benefited from European ways, including his career and education which were obtained in a British influenced environment. Obi struggles because many of his people have already chosen to embrace the ways of the British, ...