A Man of the People Essay Questions

In A Man of the People, corruption is ubiquitous. Which characters resist corruption? Which characters succumb to it? What do these struggles demonstrate about human nature?

Each character is shown grappling with the effects of corruption. For this reason, it is difficult to isolate a binary spectrum in which certain characters are morally "superior" to others. Although this story focuses on Odili recognizing the corruption that runs through his country, he himself has selfish motivations. While it may be easy to pin Chief Nanga as the most corrupt figure in the novel, Odili begins to mimic some of the Minister's behavior. In addition, Max is idealized throughout the novel as a political intellect and ultimately a martyr for the cause. However, even Max accepts a bribe from Chief Koko. These actions demonstrate that each person is ultimately motivated by their own self-interests.

What is the role of Jean and John in the novel? Why are their interactions with Odili worthy of analysis?

The tension between Western and African cultures is further exacerbated by the presence of Jean and John. As the couple talks to Chief Nanga, they decide to call the Minister by his Christian name. Symbolically, this action indicates the erasure of African culture in favor of Western, white assimilation. While Odili is made uncomfortable by the couple’s behavior, his feelings magnify as he talks to John. When John argues that America is historically unique in its benevolent use of its power, Odili finds himself unable to contest. This renders him both angry and powerless.

While the story takes place in post-colonial Africa, Jean and John's influence indicates the continued detrimental effects of colonialism on a post-colonial society. When Odili and Jean spend the night together, we are prompted to analyze the language used in describing their tryst. Odili comments that Jean looks at him across the dinner table with a voracious “eagerness.” This dynamic indicates the animalistic, barbaric way in which Jean views Odili. Symbolically, this perspective symbolizes the dehumanizing white gaze and the objectification of the African body. Thus, Jean and John greatly affect how Odili perceives his own national identity.

How are women portrayed throughout the novel? How do their representations differ, and what are the commonalities in their characterizations?

There are a variety of female characters throughout the novel. Although the story is told from Odili's perspective, the narrator rarely includes direct quotations from the female characters. Instead, their opinions and perspectives are recounted in a way that understates their significance. Despite their subordination, women remain an integral part of the plot. The three most prominent women in the novel are Edna, Elsie, and Mrs. Nanga. Both Elsie and Edna serve as objects of conquest for Chief Nanga and Odili, respectively. While these women have families and careers, the story does not delve into their interior lives. Their superficial depictions leaves the reader to consider Odili, Chief Nanga, and other male figures as the story's only fully-developed characters. Additionally, women are often blamed or made the scapegoats for the unfortunate circumstances that many of the men find themselves in. Odili witnesses this firsthand when he comments on Edna's passivity regarding her engagement. He sees the engagement as her fault, and he fails to consider how her social class and gender render her unable to oppose this decision. Edna astutely replies that "this is the world of women" (69), and Odili is forced to consider the subjugation of women and its pervasiveness in his society. The only woman who serves as a contrast to this restrictive view of femininity is Eunice, Max's wife. Odili observes the equality of her partnership and the way in which she wields her academic and professional power. Odili is slightly envious of Eunice, and we are prompted to consider how Odili's masculinity is threatened by the presence of a strong African woman.

How does Odili conflate his personal and political lives? How should we understand this parallel?

After Chief Nanga sleeps with Elsie, Odili analyzes Chief Nanga's betrayal as a symbolic representation of how the Minister preys upon the nation's most vulnerable citizens in order to get what he wants. Odili formulates the plans for his revenge by championing the idea that "the personal is political." The narrator aims simultaneously to threaten the Chief's governmental position and to steal his fiancée. Throughout the novel, Odili reflects upon the "intertwined" nature of his personal and political pursuits.

In the 1960s and 1970s, a popular political argument emerged globally that declared that “the personal is political.” Various scholars and activists aimed to underscore the connections between individual, personal experiences and larger dominant social and political structures. A Man of the People is likewise set during this time period, and it is clear that Achebe was profoundly influenced by the various political discussions that occurred during this revolutionary decade.

How is social class discussed in A Man of the People?

Social class is a central theme in A Man of the People. Odili discusses his own social class and the privileges of his upbringing. He explains that his father was a translator and a local chairman of a P.O.P. constituency. These factors shaped Odili's early life and thus changed the way he views his larger society. His socioeconomic privilege allowed him to leave his village and receive an international education. However, despite his own upper-middle-class upbringing, Odili resents the nation's elite.

Interestingly, Odili voices his disdain for the "common man" throughout the novel. Odili deeply criticizes the general political disinterest of the proletariat. While they are aware of Chief Nanga's fraudulent real estate cases and other examples of deceit, they still believe that they can get "their share of the national cake" if he is the figure in power. Odili ruminates on the dynamic between the masses and the elite politicians throughout his campaign.

When Odili contests Chief Nanga, he bases his plans for reform on the basic premise that he is the champion of the common person. However, Odili comments on the irony of the C.P.C. and their chosen namesake. During one C.P.C. meeting, he notes how the mobilizing figures of the Common People’s Convention are intellectuals that are not representative of the entire nation. None of them really qualify as "common people." However, the committee defends their formation, and they draw upon Karl Marx to explain that all revolutions begin with the intellectual elite.