Chinua Achebes Arrow of God Essay -- Chinua Achebe Arrow of God

Chinua Achebe's Arrow of God Chinua Achebe's Arrow of God is set in the 1920's, before secularism became dominant. It begins with the image of a mask, when he tells his son not to carve the mask of a god for the white man. The mask is a symbol of change. The whole world is changing, and the people who do not change will not survive. The old priest, Ezeulu, desires change, but he cannot do it. He cannot force himself to leave the old ways behind and adopt the new ways. Thus, he sends one of his sons to learn from the white man. He cannot do it himself. This novel shows the life and death of an Igbo priest in a battle between traditional tribal religion and missionary Christianity. The ways in which this confrontation is played out also repeat. A Christian church is set up in a traditional village. The Christians have two attitudes regarding traditional religion. John Goodcountry's enthusiasm inspires Oduche, the Christian son of Chief Priest Ezeulu, to capture the sacred python. Goodcountry is opposed by Moses Unachukwu, who may be open to both cultures out of pragmatic motives, since he appreciates the religious and economic power of the white man, and he hopes to profit from that power. Ezeulu has mixed feelings. He sends Oduche to the missionaries in order to gain access to their wisdom, but he fears the aggressiveness of the new religion. However, his devotion to his god, Ulu, is unquestionable, as is seen in his participation in the New Yam festival. Ezeulu, the main character of the novel, is sincere when he refuses to obey Winterbottom's summons to Okperi because such behavior does not befit his sacred role. Ezeulu stands up for what he believes is right, as his god reveals it to him, even when there is no profit in it for himself. He even loses much by saying the truth. Thus, he is like a saint. Ezeulu has a negative side too. He wonders if he is merely the tool of Ulu. Does he have any personal power, himself? Could he refuse to authorize the New Yam Harvest Festival? At the other extreme, he has bad dreams about being dishonored together with his god. As the story proceeds, Ezeulu feels more and more alienated from his community. They do not support him, and they do not even admit that he was right when they get bad effects from their headstrong actions. They go against Ezeulu's advice, and things go bad... ...orld of change, the old priest is not flexible enough to adapt, so he is swept aside. The story of the old priest is actually the story of all his people in all the six villages. They forget their religion, and they accept the religion of their conquerors. Ezeulu forgets first, and then the people forget. The people created the god Ulu when they united the six villages to form Umuaro. Ezeulu wrestles with the people on behalf of the god Ulu, since he forgets that Ulu was made to serve the people. They were not made to serve Ulu. The priest fails to understand his relationship to the god and the community. He is supposed to serve the community, but he is trying to force them to serve his god. This is the source of his downfall. When Ezeulu is released from prison, it is raining, and he feels like it is healing and restoring him. But his pride will make him do the wrong thing again. He has suffered, and now he wants revenge, but he will only destroy himself and those he loves. He sees that others suffer because of their own actions, but he does not take responsibility for his own suffering. He just goes insane. Bibliography: Arrow of God, by Chinua Achebe

Money

According to eHow Money, working conditions in many if not all places were extremely poor, most died from machinery or toxicity from work areas, especially as many worked long hours for poor pay. (EconLib, 2002) For most people, whether in the I-JK or the US, the working class were really Working class', even though Jobs were developing the intensity of the Job was not lessened, they were indeed laborious. As the years went on, leading from the early ages of industrial work, developing into the current year 2013 much has changed.Till now legislations have been passed in order for all employees to have rights within the organisation that they work, Rights such as Equal Pay, Sex Discrimination, Race Relations, Gender Recognition amongst many since as early as the 1970's. (University of Bradford, 2010) Through such laws being passed, men and women are able to work side by side , earn fair pay and have the same standing as man within the working society, though even through these laws, d iscrimination of sexes is still large and racism is still a factor.Individuals differ, and very much so, through ethnicity, physique, gender, family experiences, motivation, attitudes and personality. (Laurie J Mullins, 2010, Chapter 4) ‘Sensitivity to individual needs and differences, especially in terms of their resilience, becomes particularly significant, when organisations embark on change initiatives. Such changes may lead to new mind sets, new attitudes and new perceptions that enable people to cope and adjust to the different world'. Laurie J Mullins, 2010, Chapter 4) People's perception of the working environment has changed so much that for an employer to create a scenario of discrimination is no longer a laughing matter, employers must approach every situation with such sensitivity, they have to consider how people react to situations and how they can deal with individuals as opportunities and as the company changes, especially when culture also happens to e a facto r as mentioned by Schein, ‘a pattern of basic assumptions-invented, discovered or developed by a given group as it learns to cope with its problems of external adaptation and internal integration'. Laurie J Mullins, 2010, Chapter 6)In Hugh Collins book ‘Employment Law, he states how the employment rights act has paved the way for so many other rights such as anti-discrimination, trade unions and human rights. Through this we can understand that it is due to such laws amongst many others that organisations are literally forced into including rights for people they would not have thought of, and the law that assembles all the issues together is the Equality Act f 2006, where it is stated that there must be equality and human rights, discrimination unlawful on grounds of religion, belief, education etc. nd to create public authorities to create equal opportunity between men and women. (University of Bradford, 2010) These laws have been passed continuously throughout the dec ades in order to allow the greater populace, ever growing in numbers and diversity to engage in work, so they are not heckled at as they choose to earn and make a living for themselves.Each law holding a certain purpose has not only paved the way for diversity in race and eligion, but fundamentally in gender, which has been the concern even till now. How these acts are implemented in the working environment is the most interesting thing, from the advertising to the selection of a person. For example many years back a well renowned advert had been broadcast for some time, by Howard Brown, an employee of Halifax Banking, turned actor to promote his organisation.He was promoted in order to promote. There are many examples like this which allow for diversities to be represented in a positive light, something that wasn't witnessed even a decade ago. Job descriptions have become broader, allowing anyone to apply, by the 1900-2005 racism was still rifled in parts of Europe, especially the I-JK and France, according to a BBC online survey made in 2002, 40% of black people say that they had witnessed racism in a place ot employment, double the tgure tor white people.Looking at t you could it can be noted that even now this number though may have decreased it is still relevantly at an all-time high. Within the selection process, through the advance of educational equality, all generations of people are now educated, hence the growing number of unemployed, eople both educated high or at a lower level are struggling to secure Jobs, this nearly almost causes an issue in selecting Just the right person for the Job, one may have one good image but lack in other etc.There is something called the ‘Halo Effect', this is where if we see them first in a good side it becomes difficult to recognise the bad side in them, for example noticing a person's glowing eyes as being the factor for someone's employment rather than them having what it takes to hold the occupation. The Ec onomist, 2009) In conclusion, looking through the laws that have been passed and the decisions aken to improve on how people are employed through fair recruitment and equality of opportunity is that it allows for greater sympathy to people who want to work, it has now developed into a liking to employ a diverse group, the public eye is ever present on what actions a company takes with its employees and how it runs itself.Organisations do the best they can to apply fair rules and run the company through the passed laws as it shows they are willing to experience each member of its team and become more adaptive in how it deals with its staff. The better they do internally the better they are presented externally.

Willy Loman - A Tragic Hero Essay - 744 Words

In Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman, the author conveys the reader about how a person lives his life when he or she cannot live the â€Å"American Dream.† Willy Loman, the main character in the play is a confused and tragic character. He is a man who is struggling to hold onto what morality he has left in a changing society that no longer values the ideals he grew up to believe in. Even though the society he lives in can be blamed for much of his misfortune, he must also be the blame for his bad judgment, disloyalty and his foolish pride. Willy Loman believes in the â€Å"American Dream,† which is the belief that anyone can be lifted from humble beginnings to greatness. His belief on this idea is that a man can reach success by selling his†¦show more content†¦He realizes that these values are not true, and is not too concerned if he does not come out on top. He wants to be able to know who he is. Happy, on the other hand, continues to believe in Will y’s ideas, even after his father’s death, and decides that Willy’s name will succeed. As the play progresses, one begins to feel sorry for Willy and his problem, but at the same time angry and frustrated with him for his foolish pride. With this trait, it prevented him from accepting a job from Charlie, something that could have saved his life. Also, it is with this false pride that has been sparking the family flame for years, the fact that the Loman name was well known and well-liked. The family lie that was amongst themselves is revealed during the climax of the play. One example is the way in which Willy led Biff to believe that he is a salesman for Oliver, which at the end left Biff disappointed. The reason for this estimation of the truth may be because of Willy’s idea that he has not raised Biff and Happy the right way. The most important quote in the story is when Happy says about Willy, â€Å"He’s never so Happy as when he’s lookin forward to something.† Willy’s spirit decline when he has nothing to look forward to, in effect, causes him to have flashbacks. For example, when he is in the restaurant expecting big news from Biff, he is all together and happy about the fact that the news will fullfill hisShow MoreRelatedWilly Loman Tragic Hero730 Words   |  3 PagesIn 1949, the forlorn life of Willy Loman is introduced in Arthur Miller’s â€Å"Death of a Salesman†. At this time the American Dream was something everyone craved during the peak of suburbia. The American Dream was the golden standard of living like Donna Reed, all wrapped up with a white picket fence. To Willy Loman, The American Dream was not the golden standard, but the only standard. His wife Linda dutifully greeting him as he came home from a successful day as a salesman, and sits down to dinnerRead MoreWilly Loman Tragic Hero Analysis956 Words   |  4 Pagesis revolved around the concept of tragedy and a tragic h ero. Aristotle defines tragedy as â€Å"the consequence of a man’s total compulsion to evaluate himself justly†. A tragic hero is defined as â€Å"a literary character who makes a judgement error that inevitably leads to his/her own destruction†. These two concepts apply to the play in the sense that Willy Loman is a man of good intentions, but there is often an undesirable outcome of them. Also, Willy is a victim of himself and his own beliefs. ArthurRead MoreWilly Loman Tragic Hero Analysis971 Words   |  4 Pagesor affair; disaster†. The main character, Willy Loman, shows how one dream can become a disaster through his impractical dreams and failing at achieving these goals. Not only does he fail at his dreams, he participates in an affair that is against morals. The idea of a tragic hero is defined as â€Å"a great or virtuous character in a dramatic tragedy who is destined for downfall, suffering, or defeat†. Miller believes that the common m an is the best tragic hero because it shows that the average, everydayRead MoreCharacteristics Of Willy Loman A Tragic Hero834 Words   |  4 PagesWilly Loman a Tragic Hero? Death Of a Salesman is a 1949 play written by american playwright Arthur Miller. It is a breathtaking play about Willy Loman, a salesman, trying to chase a dream that died long ago. It expresses how the old man’s life comes crumbling down with his last few attempts to make some of his dream reality and help his family in debt. Now people are debating weather Willy loman fits the right characteristics to be classified as a tragic hero. A tragic hero is someone who makesRead MoreHow Is Willy Loman A Tragic Hero727 Words   |  3 Pages The tragic hero referenced throughout the essay Tragedy and a Common Man is Willy Loman from Death of a Salesman. What Arthur Miller means by tragic hero is a protagonist in a play or a different form of filmography who is a subject for tragedy in its highest sense. The essay refers to a character who is ready to lay down his life to secure his personal dignity. The next reference to this character is society the struggle to gain a rightful posi tion. The last proof of this is how Miller talks aboutRead MoreWilly Loman: the Tragic Hero Essay1462 Words   |  6 PagesArthur Miller made the comment that a tragic hero â€Å"has the inherent unwillingness to remain passive in the face of what he conceives to be a challenge to his dignity.† Nowhere is this more evident than in Miller’s play Death of a Salesman, where salesman Willy Loman desperately struggles to regain a sense of dignity after experiencing a number of setbacks in his life. Despite not being able to provide for his family, Willy Loman continues the futile struggle to earn a living, which shows the despairRead MoreIs Willy Loman a Tragic Hero in Death of Salesman1305 Words   |  6 PagesWilly Loman’s character in Death of a Salesman portrays him as a tragic hero. Willy Loman continued to want his recognition and his reputation but never forgets about his family. These characteristics describe him as a tragic hero in Death of a Salesman. Willy Loman’s tragic flow leads him to purse the idea that reputation in society has more relevancies in life than knowledge and education to survive in the business. His grand error of wanting recognition drove him crazy and insane and lead toRead MoreEssay on Can Willy Loman Be Considered A Tragic Hero?1632 Words   |  7 PagesCan Willy Loman Be Considered A Tragic Hero? Whether Willy Loman can be considered a tragic hero has long been debated between critics. Ever since Miller produced the play, people have discussed whether Willy’s status was high enough for his fall to be considered tragic, or whether Willy can be seen as an altogether modern tragic hero, I will be looking at both these views taking into consideration critics views and also adding my own thoughts. Tragedy has its origin in ancient GreeceRead More Willy Loman as Tragic Hero of Death of a Salesman Essay1519 Words   |  7 PagesWilly Loman as Tragic Hero of Death of a Salesman       Willy Loman, the title character of the play, Death of Salesman, exhibits all the characteristics of a modern tragic hero. This essay will support this thesis by drawing on examples from Medea by Euripedes, Poetics by Aristotle, Oedipus Rex by Sophocles, and Shakespeares Julius Caesar, while comments by Moss, Gordon, and Nourse reinforce the thesis.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Death of Salesman, by Arthur Miller, fits the characteristics of classicRead MoreEssay Death of a Salesman, Tragic Hero. Willy Loman.1503 Words   |  7 PagesTo what extent can Willy Loman be considered a tragic hero according to Aristotle’s rules? Arthur Miller presents his play ‘Death of a Salesman’ in the ancient form of a tragedy. Aristotle has defined his idea of the ‘perfect’ tragedy in his text, ‘Poetics’ (350 BC).Here he suggests that the protagonist must fall from an elevated social standing as a result of a â€Å"fatal flaw† within the character; the fall from the main character creates resolution to the play which is seen as just; finally, Aristotle