Summary
Odili’s father chastises him for not accepting Chief Nanga’s bribe. Odili offers a rebuttal and confronts his father about his own political party also receiving bribes. Later, at an assembly, Max gives a successful speech that outlines the aims of the C.P.C. Odili later tells Max about Chief Nanga’s visit, and Max argues that Odili should have taken Chief Nanga’s bribe. Max reveals that he accepted Chief Koko’s bribe of one thousand pounds to pay for the minibus which was used during the campaign.
Odili tells Max that taking the bribe was a terrible error. However, Max disagrees. Meanwhile, Odili grows jealous of Eunice’s unwavering devotion to Max. This envy drives him to wholeheartedly profess his love to Edna. He travels to Anata to deliver the news.
Edna greets Odili coldly. She begins to yell at him, explaining that her father will “castrate him” if he catches Odili in the home. Offended by Edna’s reaction, Odili hurriedly leaves the home and drives away. He is overwhelmed by the terrible thought that “Chief Nanga had won the second round” (131). While Odili is listening to the news on his radio, he learns that his father has been removed from office for his anti-party activities. He is later arrested, and Odili must scrape together money in order for him to be released.
Upset with his father’s arrest, Odili pens a letter to Edna. In the letter, he writes that he would never marry a “girl who has no more education than lower Elementary” (134). Two nights later, Odili is drawn to a community meeting by the sound of the Crier’s gong. Odili explains that this sound usually indicates that an important governmental matter will be up for debate. However, on this occasion, Odili learns that the government has already made an important decision and must thus alert its citizens.
The Crier explains that everyone must vote for Chief Nanga in the upcoming election. If someone were to cast a vote for another candidate, it would not be counted. Later, Odili is told that if his father signs a document dissociating himself from Odili’s political activities, his tax levy will be refunded. Odili decides to disguise himself and go to Chief Nanga’s inaugural campaign meeting. While there, Odili begins fantasizing about disrupting the meeting.
Josiah alerts Chief Nanga that Odili is among the crowd. Over the loudspeaker, the Minister orders the crowd to stop “the thief trying to run away” (140). Annoyed that someone would call him a “thief,” Odili stops running away and decides to confront Chief Nanga. The Minister begins telling the audience of Odili’s hypocrisy and his plan to marry Edna. Angry, Odili takes the microphone and tries to tell the crowd that Chief Nanga is dishonest. However, before he can finish his manifesto, Chief Nanga slaps Odili in front of the assembly.
Odili awakens in a hospital four weeks later, where he learns that his skull was cracked during the assembly. Odili’s father is at his bedside, and he tells his son that his “case” has been withdrawn. Odili discovers that weapons were planted in his car in order to prevent him from signing his nomination paper. He also finds out that it is currently election day, and Max has been killed by Chief Koko. Odili is told that following Max’s death, Eunice shot and killed Chief Koko in an act of vengeance. Later, Edna visits Odili in the hospital. Odili apologizes to Edna for his hurtful words, but he discovers that his second letter was intercepted and never reached her. Astonished at his good fortune, Odili begins arranging to marry Edna. In addition, Odili vows to have Eunice released from jail and to dedicate a school to Max as a true “hero of the revolution.”
Analysis
Odili is forced to grapple with the idea of political integrity when he discovers that Max has accepted a bribe from the opposing party. This detail reminds the audience again of the ubiquity of governmental hypocrisy and self-interest. Although Odili has idealized Max for his intellectualism and his commitment to the C.P.C., this detail changes how Odili sees his comrade. Odili is prompted to evaluate the moments in which he, too, has used his political privilege to acquire material possessions. Primarily, Odili considers the value he and his family have placed on his new car.
It is particularly interesting that Odili’s impulse to tell Edna about his true feelings is driven by his observance of Max and Eunice. This detail allows the reader to extract more information about Odili’s character. It becomes clear that Odili often reflects upon himself when he notices the behaviors of those around him. This highlights Odili’s own feelings of inadequacy. Additionally, it demonstrates that he is strongly driven by his jealousy.
When Odili arrives at Edna’s home, he is taken aback by her curtness. Edna’s reaction reveals the stark contrast between these two characters. While Odili views his life as a series of games that he attempts to “win,” Edna takes things more seriously, recognizing the gravity of these life-defining decisions. However, Odili is unable to understand that Edna’s reaction to his arrival is a form of self-defense and self-preservation. Odili’s angry reaction—his dramatic exit and the insulting letter—reveal the defense mechanisms against his vulnerability and emotional fragility.
The falling action of the story occurs when Odili attends Chief Nanga’s assembly. It is significant that the narrator does not provide the reader with the reasoning behind his appearance. Although he disguises himself, does Odili secretly want to be caught in his radical operation? Is this a final step of defiance and carelessness meant to bring about his own demise? Once again, we are reminded that Odili’s pride is his fatal flaw. If Odili did not turn around after being called a “thief,” perhaps he could have escaped and changed the course of his story.
When Odili awakes in the hospital, he is forced to confront his harsh reality. While he is aggravated by the government’s sabotage, he is more so affected by Max’s death. Max’s martyrdom prompts the audience to further consider the differences between Odili and his comrade. While Odili entered the political realm for personal reasons, Max steadfastly proves himself to be an intellect with an unwavering commitment to his political mission. Although he has lost the election, Odili’s survival and pending engagement to Edna demonstrate that he has emerged victorious. In Max’s death, we find that Odili mirrors the behavior of the various politicians he criticizes. In taking advantage of Max’s martyrdom, it is clear that the narrator uses and disposes of others for his personal advancement.
