Essay Questions

What binary relates to the “Primary Education?” - “Vengeful Creditor”

Capitalism versus Socialism: Free education exemplifies socialism, as Chinua Achebe writes, “ The government was persuaded by then that its ‘piece of hare-brained socialism’ as the New Age called it was unworkable in African conditions.” Comparatively, capitalism is intensified through the payment of school fees. Minister for finance observes: “people riot against taxes but not against school fees.” Based on the minister’s argument capitalism is more workable as it is based on the obligatory payment of school fees. Under the socialist system, the funding of education takes place at a communal level whereas under capitalism, the funding is at an individual level (school fees).

When does Veronica project her frustration over not schooling to Goddy? - “Vengeful Creditor”

Achebe writes, “more weeks and months passed by and little Goody begging to say a few words but still no one spoke about Vero’s going to school. She decided it was Goddy’s fault, that he wasn’t growing fast enough.” Veronica’s projection of anger arouses her to poison the child because the child is an obstruction to her academic dreams.

Who is the vengeful creditor? - “Vengeful Creditor”

Veronica’s relationship with the Emenike family is analogous to a business case whereby the Emenikes are the business owners whereas Veronica is the creditor. The Emenike owe her education because Mr. Emenike had assured Veronica’s mother that he would sign her up at school once the baby had developed. The baby is a warranty for the debt. Veronica’s vengeance occasions her attempts to kill Goddy so that she can intensify her likelihoods of reclaiming the debt which the Emenikes owe her.

What binary influences Michael Obi’s outlook in “Dead Men’s Path” - “Dead Men’s Path”

Modernity Versus Orthodoxy: Achebe explains, “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." Michael Obi buoys up his companion to loathe the Nigeria’s old culture. According to Michael Obi, modernism is valuable that is why he expects that Modernity will be his prime philosophy when administering Ndume Central School.

How does Chinua Achebe undermine the Modernity versus Orthodoxy Binary? - “Dead Men’s Path”

The priest asserts, “let the hawk perch and let the eagle perch." The saying breaks the binary down because it indicates that for modernity to flourish it should put up with tradition. Attempting to abolish tradition could initiate pandemonium. The hawk and the eagle designate modernity and orthodoxy interchangeably . The perching of the two diverse birds cultivates diplomatic synchronicity. Similarly, allowing both modernity and tradition to co-exist can be valuable in forestalling pro-modernity versus pro-orthodoxy clashes.