No Longer at Ease

Obi believes that education can battle corruption. How does he justify this view? Do his ideas change through the course of the story? Why does the novel establish his downfall at the opening of the story?

How does the narrative illustrate the position of women in Nigerian colonial society? What are the differences between gender roles? How do socio-cultural tensions impact them?

What tensions does Obi’s double heritage generate? Is he impacted more by Western culture or the Igbo tradition? How does his inner life interact with the pressures of outer forces throughout the story?

Analyze Obi’s character through a gendered perspective. What is Obi’s relationship with women and men in the text, and what do they reveal about his identity? How do his responsibilities toward the community impact him as a man?

Describe the relation between corruption in Nigeria and British colonial rule. Why does bribery and favoritism pervade Nigerian society? How does Chinua Achebe provide social criticism that relates to the country’s future as an independent nation?

What does Mr. Green’s position within the narrative reveal about European authority in the colonial state? What are Obi’s views on his boss? Use examples from the text to justify your response.

What is the role of the Umuofia Progressive Union in the story? What kind of socio-cultural tensions does it reveal? Why is the Union ultimately unable to help Obi with his economic struggles?

Analyze Obi’s relationship with his mother and father. How do they impact his character? What are the differences between his mother and father, and how do they define Obi’s life course?