A Man of the People

A Man of the People Literary Elements

Genre

Satire

Setting and Context

An unnamed African country in the post-colonial 1960s.

Narrator and Point of View

The narrator of the story is Odili Samalu. The novel is told from Odili's first-hand perspective.

Tone and Mood

The tone of the story is impassioned, pensive, and critical. The mood is frustrated and restless.

Protagonist and Antagonist

The protagonist of the story is the narrator, Odili Samalu. The antagonist is Chief M.A. Nanga.

Major Conflict

Odili seeks revenge on Chief Nanga by pursuing his fiancee and contesting his cabinet seat.

Climax

When Odili's girlfriend, Elsie, visits Chief Nanga's mansion, the Minister seduces her. This prompts the narrator to seek revenge.

Foreshadowing

Chief Nanga’s interrogation indicates that he has taken an interest in Odili’s girlfriend. Their ensuing discussion about Elsie foreshadows the climactic conflict between these two characters. Another instance of foreshadowing occurs when Odili discusses the danger of political involvement and begins to fear for his own safety. FInally, the chapter’s closing events foreshadow the gravity of the falling actions. Chief Nanga’s attempt to bribe Odili out of the election indicates that the Chief will undertake drastic measures to eliminate his competitors.

Understatement

Odili's insecurities are consistently understated throughout the novel, though they drive many of his actions.

Allusions

Imagery

Chief Nanga's home is described with vivid visual and olfactory imagery. Additionally, the rancid smell of poor sanitation and the impoverished conditions of the country's rural poor are described in intense detail.

Paradox

Parallelism

Odili's former professor changes his radical politics upon discovering the privileges that accompany mainstream political success. This serves as a parallel to Odili's own political trajectory.

Metonymy and Synecdoche

Personification

The Minister's Cadillac car is personified as "suave."

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