Chinua Achebe’s A Man of the People: Themes and Character Analysis
Major Themes in A Man of the People
The main themes explored in Chinua Achebe’s novel are the struggle for power, the influence of greed, and the prevailing aura of corruption.
The Struggle for Power
The struggle for power manifests through both political maneuvering and generational conflict.
- Political Power: Initially, Odili avoids the influence of the powerful Chief Nanga. However, he is slowly enticed to Nanga’s side through lavish parties, vacations, and other bonuses.
- Generational Power: This conflict is evident between Odili and his own father. The father lives in poverty, partly due to the influence and actions of his many wives. Odili desires more than this poverty, but the irony is that the apparent path out of destitution involves the very connection with Nanga that Odili initially sought to avoid. He soon discovers that there are strings attached to every loyalty.
The Influence of Greed
Odili undoubtedly desires more than his father’s poverty. Although initially disgusted by Chief Nanga, Odili is slowly seduced by the wealth involved. Being invited to ostentatious receptions, parties, and mansions truly appeals to him, igniting his own greed.
After independence from white rule, the country divided its natives into two groups: the majority remained poor, while a tiny minority, who had served the whites, became rich. Bribes are prevalent. People, even those with government-sanctioned jobs, are paid to turn their back on injustice. What motivated this select few who already had more than enough? Greed.
Pervasive Corruption
Connecting the two themes above is the pervasive theme of corruption. This is highlighted by a pithy statement describing Chief Nanga:
“[Nanga is] bloated by the flatulence of ill-gotten wealth, living in a big mansion built with public money, riding in a Cadillac, and watched over by a one-eyed, hired thug.”
Corruption exists in government (due to bribes, injustice, and class division) and in financial matters. Chief Nanga continually uses deceitful practices and the distribution of wealth to gain followers. Lavish parties and visits to mansions are the norm for those who comply. Jobs teaching the poor of the “bush” are what remains if you do not give in. Only those connected with the ruling class (before and after independence) have money to spend freely. Everyone else is either poverty-stricken or just scraping by.
Interpreting the Title: A Man of the People
The title of Chinua Achebe’s book, A Man of the People, can be interpreted in several complex ways, often highlighting irony.
Odili as a Man of the People
Odili, the protagonist and narrator, embodies the Nigerian people in contradictory ways:
- He opposes corruption and decides to run for office specifically to serve his people.
- Simultaneously, his personal life is marked by deception and manipulation; he allows jealousy to guide his decisions and pursues women out of desire for sexual gratification or opposition to their male partners.
- Having been educated abroad, British ways of life have affected his attachment to Nigerian society.
The irony, Achebe suggests in his postcolonial commentary, is that these flawed qualities help make him a typical Nigerian man of his time.
Critique of Postcolonial Governance
Achebe offers a broad critique of the widespread corruption in the early independence-era government, suggesting that the negative legacy of colonialism hindered the Nigerian people’s ability for effective governance.
Other male characters also represent imperfect facets of the populace:
- Odili attempts to reject the co-opting and subservience he witnessed in his father, the former District Interpreter, who lacks faith in the current system.
- Chief Nanga, the “born politician” who emerges from traditional society, illustrates the difficult transition from older ways into the modern political system.
- Max, a sophisticated, worldly man, attempts to rise above the surrounding corruption.
Oppression and Powerlessness in the Novel
A major theme in A Man of the People is political corruption and the relative powerlessness of everyday people in the politics of the unnamed African country where the story is set.
Odili initially tries to resist honoring political officials he believes to be corrupt, only to be drawn in by the bribes offered to him. He joins a dissident political party, but soon realizes that while they claim to be a party of “the people,” their members are all elite professionals.
When Odili ultimately tries to run for office, the established political powers successfully turn “the people” against him. These powers are later overthrown by a military coup. This sequence of events suggests that the electoral system and the idea of invoking the will of “the people” are largely a sham. Ultimately, power in this context derives from military might, a resource that the everyday populace lacks.
Key Characters in A Man of the People
Chinua Achebe’s novel focuses primarily on Odili, the narrator, and the cast of colorful characters surrounding him.
Odili: The Protagonist’s Journey
Odili is a teacher who took the job after refusing a government position to avoid the associated “politics.” He is the lead male character and narrates the story—a typical young man who still has a great deal to learn about life and himself. Initially, he is naive (taken in by the corrupt Nanga), but he is also egotistical and self-congratulatory, often speaking first and thinking later.
At the start of the story, Odili is not fond of his father. With five wives and thirty-five children, the elderly man relies solely on a government pension, which is insufficient to support his younger wives and their children. However, as Odili gets to know his father better, his opinion changes. Later, by comparing his father with Nanga, Odili realizes his father is a man of integrity.
Odili matures throughout the story, learning to see the world and the people around him differently. While he realizes that Nanga is deposed not because he was morally corrupt, but because the people wanted power for their children, there is a sense of hope at the end when Odili marries Edna. This suggests that people can “oppose tyrants,” and the once politically-isolated Odili might become helpful in this regard.
Chief Nanga: The Corrupt Tyrant
Chief Nanga is portrayed as a tyrant—a man who seems to do whatever he wants. This includes seducing Odili’s girlfriend, Elsie (a nurse). More distressing than Nanga’s behavior with Elsie is Odili’s realization that he is powerless to stop it. Nanga is the primary antagonist; his charm is easily discernible by the reader, making him effective at persuading people to believe the best of him, regardless of his immoral behavior. He is a force to be reckoned with.
Max: The Moral Foil
Max, Odili’s friend, generally exhibits more self-control than Odili. He is more mature and committed to political action, contrasting with Odili’s initial attempts to avoid politics. Max acts as a foil for the main character, helping the reader gain a clearer understanding of Odili. Although Max is generally wise and moral, he takes a bribe (which deeply worries Odili, demonstrating Odili’s developing moral compass). Max is eventually assassinated while attempting to keep local politics clean.
Supporting Characters
- Dogo: Nanga’s one-eyed assistant.
- Simon Koko: Also allied with Nanga. He is extremely fearful and perhaps foolish, as seen when he mistakenly believes his coffee has been poisoned (when they had merely switched coffee brands).
The Women of the Novel
Odili is characterized as a chauvinist. When observing Nanga’s wife, he struggles to reconcile her beauty with her intelligence, reflecting his internal bias that a woman cannot possess both qualities.
- Elsie: Odili’s girlfriend, a nurse, seduced by Chief Nanga.
- Edna: Not very sophisticated, but an extremely intelligent woman. She is sharp enough to avoid being seduced by Nanga and nurses Odili back to health after he is beaten up at the end of the story. Odili marries her, symbolizing hope for his future.
- Eunice: A very strong and brave woman. She is a lawyer and Max’s wife, and it is she who kills Koko after Max is murdered.