Dead Men’s Path by Chinua Achebe • The Story of an Hour by Kate Chopin , Hills Like White Elephants by Ernest Hemingway

The Story of an Hour

Louise, Mr. Mallard’s wife, has a sensitive heart condition. Josephine, Louise’s sister, and Mr. Richards, a friend to her husband, are very careful to break the saddening news to her. Her husband has died from a tragic train accident. Louise, a fair and young woman, is devastated and after a period of sobbing, she walks up the stairs and ends up locking herself in her room. Surprisingly when her sadness begins to fade away, she feels freer, energetic and despite mourning her dead husband, she is pleased to have all the time to herself.  And despite the non-doubtable love that they shared, Louise is not disheartened by his death. And the contrary to just yesterday when she had seen life as wearisome, she now had a reason to live her life again and will not have to abide by her husband’s wishes. After a continuous urge from her sister to open the door, she eventually gives in but ironically, comes out triumphal. However, to the shock and perhaps even more of a disappointment, Mr. Mallard, her husband walks in unharmed. Louise immediately gets a heart attack, falls and dies out of what the doctors perceive as “overflowing of joy in a weak heart .“

Kate Chopin (1894), exhibits different tones that range from hopeful to ironical to explain the unexpected turn of events in Louise’s life. The otherwise hoped to be dead, Mr. Mallard is alive, and Louise eventually dies. The Situational irony is used extensively in the whole narrative to portray the happening of the unexpected events.

Though the writer starts the narrative by signifying that Louise is suffering from a heart condition, it can be depicted that the writer was ironical and used symbolic devices as to show that Louise suffered from soul than a physical ailment. This conclusion can be drawn to that she felt freer and longed for life as compared to the previous day when she had grown wearily of tedious life. The writer further goes ahead to give this story a great implication by creating a dramatic irony where Louise’s sister and husband are in the dark of the real thoughts that run through her head. The aspect of the use of imagery is illustrated whereby Louise thoughts wander off thinking about a free life.

The conflict in the story is entirely portrayed through the thoughts of Louise. Her inner emotions conflict with the expected response. Her husband death triggers her real feelings, and she comes to the realization that her life hasn’t been perfect. The story further explores a conflict between the society and an individual’s desires. The wives in the era were expected to be submissive to their husband’s wishes. Furthermore, news of his death first reaches Mr. Richards than his wife, an act that symbolizes the belittling of women.

In conclusion, Chopin’s main purpose of writing the story may not be straightforward but few aspects come out clearly. First, she wanted to show that an individual should not celebrate another person’s death. Secondly, the author demonstrated that you can have a lot of material wealth, and still be unhappy as indicated by Mrs. Mallard’s marriage. Finally, she stresses the importance of freedom.

Dead Men's Path

According to Chinua Achebe (1953), Michael Obi, then a young man is appointed by the missionaries to regain the shape of an unprogressive Ndume central school. Obi is idealistic and energetic, and with a lot of enthusiasm, he hopes to work hard to restore the education task and enhance a mission in Christianity. With a higher and satisfactory secondary education, the young man is quick to condemn the “narrow opinions” of the other “old” and less educated school heads, and he is eager to undertake the task to demonstrate on how to run a school.

 His supportive wife, Nancy, is without a doubt standing by his side and in addition to her longing for admiration as the wife of the school head; she is willing to help her husband to raise the standard teaching. The couple hopes to replace the “backwardness” and traditional beliefs in the school system with a modern and European-inspired loveliness that she has always wished to embrace.

However, his dreams are shattered on one evening when he discovers an old woman from the village passing through an almost unused path in the school gardens that connects the village shrine and the cemetery. He is angry with the deliberate trespass; he quickly orders the fencing of the ancestral path with barbed wire. The villagers are bewildered by his action, and even the old local priest goes to the extent of explaining to him that the footpath is important as it serves as a link with their ancestors and the unborn. Obi dismisses the concern with a scorn and furthermore, he believes that “Dead men do not require footpaths.” To him, the issue is superstitious and one that the school should be on the frontline to eradicate. Two days later, a young woman dies in a death childbed. The villagers are angered by his reaction as they believe that he resulted into the misfortune. So as to appease their “insulted” spirits, they destroy the hedge, flower beds, and a building is left in ruins. Disappointed by the situation, his supervisor, a government Education Officer, report the incident to the missionaries, and he is dismissed.

Achebe portrays conflict by putting Obi as the protagonist in the main theme. As demonstrated by his action against the village belief, there is a conflict between traditional beliefs and that of the European missionaries. Additionally, the higher educated Obi looks down on other teachers. His name bears both African and English name, further demonstrating the conflict that is experienced in the society.

The footpath symbolizes the lack of cultural integration between the modernized world and the villagers. Both parties believe they are right and hence none of them is willing to embrace the change. The path symbolized a significant aspect to the villagers’ tribal customs. The author represents Obi’s mission as a positive but then goes ahead to indicate that his European dreams are shattered because of his unwillingness to value the culture and beliefs of the traditional system.                                                                                                      

In conclusion, the author of the narrative purposed to teach on the importance of moderation and essence of balancing all aspects of life. The downfall of Obi can be attributed to his arrogant nature and much focus on his “perfect” ideas. His dream for an exemplary school blinds him from considering other factors that could be obstacles to his vision. The message could further exemplify that, for overall progress, it is useful for an individual to liaise with others (even those with different opinions).