The Themes of Corruption and Violence in Chinua Achebe’s a Man of the People and Anthills of the Savannah
THE THEMES OF CORRUPTION AND VIOLENCE IN CHINUA ACHEBE’S A MAN OF THE PEOPLE AND ANTHILLS OF THE SAVANNAH
ABSTRACT
This research work is set to examine the themes of Corruption and Violence in Chinua Achebe’s A Man of the People and Anthills of the Savannah. In analysing the two novels it is discovered that Achebe is one of the prolific African writers whose work of art depicts the socio political issues affecting the Nigerian society like Corruption and Violence. The study also revealed that Corruption and Violence are two major themes confronting our Nigerian society as the result of misleading and corrupt practices of some political leaders in our country Nigeria.
In A Man of the People, Achebe uses Chief Nanga as an example greedy and corrupt politician who imposes violence and oppresses the masses like Odeli and other members of the cabinet. Looking at Anthills of the Savannah, Achebe portrays how Sam His Excellency became over ambitious and officious and wanted to be a life-president as he imposes violence when he sees Ikem and Chris as brains behind his failure and he became unhappy with them, this consequently makes him took Beatrice, Chris girl.
However, Achebe at this point sees the Nigerian politicians as been the causes of Nigerian predicaments. Such as, corruption, violence and poverty that have been affecting the poor masses in the society. The study therefore recommends good literature novels with good moral lessons should be recommended to the learners on pupils and students as a gateway of eradicating the corruption and violence in our Nigerian society and Africa as a whole.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Declaration
Certification
Dedication
Acknowledgements
Abstract
Table of contents
CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background to the study
1.2 Statement of the Problem
1.3 Purpose of the Study
1.4 Significance of the Study
1.5 Objectives of the study
1.6 Scope and delimitation of the Study
1.7 Research Methodology
1.8 Bio Data of the Author
CHAPTER TWO
The Review of Related Literature
CHAPTER THREE:THEMES OF CORRUPTION AND VIOLENCE IN ACHEBE’S A MAN OF THE PEOPLE
3.1 Analysis of Achebe’s A Man of the People
3.2 The themes in Achebe’s A Man of the People
3.3 Style in Achebe’s A Man of the People
3.4 Characterization in Achebe’s A Man of the People
CHAPTER FOUR: CORRUPTION AND VIOLENCE IN CHINA ACHEBE’S ANTHILLS OF THE SAVANNAH
4.1 Analysis of Achebe’s Anthills of the Savannah
4.2 The Themes in Achebe Anthills of the Savannah
4.3 Achebe’s Styles in Anthills of the Savannah
4.4 Characterization in Achebe’s Anthills of the Savannah
CHAPTER FIVE: SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS
5.1 Summary
5.2 Conclusion
5.3 Recommendations
Works Cited
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background to the study
Without reservation, Chinua Achebe belongs to Nigeria’s first generation writers. Certainly, he is a Nigerian novelist and critic. Without a doubt, he is one of the most-read African authors. His works have primarily focused on “African politics, the depiction of African cultures and Africans characters in the West and the intricacies of pre-colonial African cultures and civilization, as well as the effects of colonisation of African societies. For instance, Achebe shows the switching of power in A Man of the People between the old and the new politicians and how the old style politician, Chief Nanga who is becoming greedier as he learns the political system.
Again, these issues of political corruption, political disillusionment and socio-political violence in the Nigerian society have been the major concerns in his works and Nigeria political sphere. Looking at A Man of the People and Anthills of the Savannah for instance, Achebe writes these two novels to condemn the African and Nigerian politicians precisely on their negative and nasty way of ruling the poor Nigerian masses. According to him, the Nigerian politicians are bereft of right thinking mentality and so must be corrected. The more reason he has written these novels is to check their excesses accordingly.
Moreover, Achebe lambasts the ordinary people in different African societies for hailing, abetting and praising African corrupt politicians whom they are supposed to condemn for their misdeeds. To Achebe, the people in African societies should recognize that African politicians need to be put in the right track by the society pinpointing their wrongs in order that African societies become better and wholesome socially, economically and politically.
Achebe, a morally upright personality is one man who believes that no society can experience any progress in an atmosphere of corruption and other unwholesome practices, hence the reason he has written these novels as weapon of attack on corrupt politicians and the society at large.
Again, to Achebe, any society that breed corruption can never develop and so the people of Africa should live an upright way of life so that we can have an ideal African Societies free from social vices of all sorts. He therefore uses this novel to condemn the worshipping of Corrupt Politicians by the ordinary people in the different Africa societies.
To Achebe when people hail and praise corrupt politicians, over their wealth, they are indirectly endorsing corruption in the society.
The Themes of Corruption and Violence in Chinua Achebe’s a Man of the People and Anthills of the Savannah
1.2 Statement of the Problem
Naturally, Achebe’s writings are on the notion that, corruption and violence are the causes of social vices confronting the Nigerian society today. Surprisingly, this is more evident in the periods succeeding the independence of Nigeria. Emphatically, he pictured the materialistic issues of corruption and violence in his critical works under investigation. In A Man of the People and Anthills of the Savannah for instance. Achebe depicts the consequences of political and socio-cultural conflicts as negative issues that have been hunting African societies and Nigeria precisely.
1.3 Purpose of the Study
Generally, the purpose of this research work is to discuss the themes of corruption and violence in Chinua Achebe’s A Man of the People and Anthills of the Savannah. The study will also examine and proffer solution to these issues of corruption and violence in our Nigerian society.
1.4 Significance of the Study
The study will be significant in the following ways. First, the works of Chinua Achebe will be beneficial to students of English and Literary studies. By exposing the problems of corruption and violence in African society.
1.5 Objectives of the study
The objectives of this study are:
(i) to examine the causes of corruption and violence in the novels under investigation.
(ii) to investigate the aims and purpose of Achebe’s writing of A Man of the People and Anthills of the Savannah in Nigerian literature.
(iii) to examine and proffer solutions to these problems and causes of corruption, violence political disillusionment in our Nigerian society.
The Themes of Corruption and Violence in Chinua Achebe’s a Man of the People and Anthills of the Savannah
1.6 Scope and delimitation of the Study
The scope of this study is delimited to the works of Chinua Achebe’s A Man of the People and Anthills of the Savannah. The scope of this study will also is also aimed at tackling the problems as indicated in the topic from the novels under investigation.
1.7 Research Methodology
The researcher will use the novel of Chinua Achebe’s A Man of the People and Anthills of the Savannah and as its primary source. Then, materials from the library will serve as the secondary sources of information. Other sources such as internet may be employed for more information.
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