No Longer At Ease Chapter 8

A big lump caught in Obi's throat.

Again, Obi being on the verge of tears, dramatized by personifying the 'lump' stuck inside him, makes us realize he knows he will be punished for being so undisciplined with money.

'This is preposterous! I could take you to court for that ... for that ... for that. ...'/'You may take me to court when I have finished.'

In theory English law would have applied in Nigeria at that time which would have guaranteed free marriage and would have given protection against discrimination; the reality is Obi is a fool to think he could take the UPU to court.

Obi rose to his feet and thanked them for having such a useful meeting, for did not the Psalmist say that it was good for brethren to meet together in harmony? 'Our fathers also have a saying about the danger of living apart. They say it is the curse of the snake. If all snakes lived together in one place, who would approach them?

It is ironic that Obi later puts himself in the situation of living apart so this suggests that, like the snake, Obi is poisonous and poisoned by corruption by the end.

Obi pushed his way through and made blindly for his car with half a dozen people at his heels pleading that he return.

Obi being described as blind arouses pathos for our tragic hero who can't see he is on the road to ruin if he gets in his car without making peace with his community.

'Drive off!' he screamed at the driver as soon as he got into the car./'Obi, please,' said Joseph, miserably...'

Obi screaming makes him look like a fool and Joseph being miserable suggests even Obi's most faithful friend can't hide his sense of doom and gloom at Obi's future.

Obi leapt to his feet trembling with rage. At such times words always deserted him./'Please sit down, Mr Okonkwo,' said the President calmly.

The contrast between Obi's trembling and the President's calm make Obi look more pathetic; the personification of words which have abandoned him make him seem more powerless to stick up for the equality he believes right.

What you get in one month is what some of your brothers here get in one year. I have already said that we will give you four months. We can even give you one year. But are we doing you any good?'

The contrast between poor Umuofians and Obi, and the rhetorical question suggesting the answer 'no' makes us feel Obi is spoilt and must be punished for his lack of discipline.

I shall start paying you back at the end of this month. Now, this minute! But don't you dare interfere in my affairs again.

The exclamation shows Obi promising impossible repayments foolishly whilst his command to the President shows how out of touch he is with (powerless) position and the UPU's power.

'We are pioneers building up our families and our town. And those who build must deny ourselves many pleasures.

The metaphor comparing Umuofians who leave the village to work in the city to settlers in nineteenth century America suggests they are brave, forward-thinking and fighting a common, uncivilized enemy; but also suggesting Obi to save money.

Lagos is a bad place for a young man. If you follow its sweetness, you will perish.

The metaphor of 'the high life' being sweet and full of dangerous luxury later proves to be true: it will mean debt, accepting bribes and rotting in jail for Obi.

One of the young people suggested that it was immoral to use public funds to buy beer for one's private thirst. The words were hard, but Obi felt somehow that they lacked bitterness...

The metaphor of words being (or not being) bitter shows that all accept the system of privilege and corruption - even when it favours others - because the powerless hope to be at the top themselves one day.

Obi even heard someone ask what he was going to do with the big money which Government would give him.

The perception that Obi has big money suggests he is ungenerous to share it and we later realize he feels really guilty for not looking after his parents better - whilst spending unwisely on his Lagos life.

'What the Government pays you is more than enough unless you go into bad ways.' Many of the people said: 'God forbid!' 'We cannot afford bad ways,'

The repetition of the idea Obi is in bad ways dramatizes how Obi is going against Umuofians and God (and will fall).

It is in little things like this that he can help us. It is our fault if we do not approach him. Shall we kill a snake and carry it in our hand when we have a bag for putting long things in?' He took his seat.

The snake symbolizes danger so the saying suggests that Obi can contain all the dangers that the white-man brings because of his position of power in the government civil service - and he owes it to Umuofians.

Obi's heart began to pound heavily.

The strong beating of Obi's heart shows that this is the turning point for him: from here on in he is on a slippery slope to ruin (but he can't help being the rebel).

'But there are two words I should like to drop before you. You are very young, a child of yesterday. You know book. But book stands by itself and experience stands by itself. So I am not afraid to talk to you.'

The two words 'book' and 'experience' contrast Obi's superficial knowledge with the elders' deeper understanding - creating a terrible sense of foreboding in Obi going against their wishes.

...we must give the young man time to look round first and know what is what.'

They are expecting Obi to learn how to play the system but the bribe system is his downfall - as we know from the first page of the novel so there is a terrible dramatic irony in this comment of a Umuofian elder.

Of course it was all a prepared speech, but it did not sound over- rehearsed. He spoke about the wonderful welcome they had given him on his return.

This idea of rehearsing lines make us feel like all the world's a stage and all men and women merely players, insincere, false - like Obi.

The top people and elders had monopolised it, leaving the young people with two kegs of sour palm- wine.

This is Achebe's observation and criticism of the way the old get the best even if the young are as capable as the old Nigerians. Like Achebe, we can't help but want social and political change.

I have heard that you are moving around with a girl of doubtful ancestry...even thinking of marrying her. ...'

Using the euphemism (indirect way of saying something) makes UPU order not to marry Clara seem politer but their doubts show the Umuofians to be backward-thinking, superstitious and prejudiced.

Obi felt very uneasy. But he knew they meant well. Perhaps it would not be too difficult to manage them.

While Obi tries to reassure himself, the short sentences make us feel tense about how incapable he already seems to manage anyone - never mind the smartest elders in his tribe.