Arrow of God: Analysis of Major Characters
"Arrow of God" features a rich tapestry of characters that embody the complexities of Igbo culture and the tensions during colonial influence in Nigeria. Central to the story is Ezeulu, the proud chief priest of Ulu, who grapples with threats from both a rival priest, Ezidemili, and the encroaching Christian mission. His pride leads to a series of tragic decisions, including his imprisonment and the subsequent famine caused by his refusal to declare the New Yam festival after the death of his son, Obika, which ultimately drives him to madness.
Captain T.K. Winterbottom, a British district officer, admires Ezeulu but becomes embroiled in cultural misunderstandings that escalate tensions between the villages of Umuaro and Okperi. Other key figures include Nwaka, an influential opponent of Ezeulu, and Oduche, Ezeulu's son who becomes increasingly aligned with Christianity. The dynamics among Ezeulu's family, including his jealous wives and his sons, further illustrate the cultural shifts and personal conflicts at play. The interplay of these characters reveals the broader themes of tradition, change, and the impact of colonialism on indigenous societies.
Arrow of God: Analysis of Major Characters
Author: Chinua Achebe
First published: 1964
Genre: Novel
Locale: Nigeria
Plot: Social realism
Time: The 1920's
Ezeulu (eh-zuh-EW-lew), a haughty, old chief priest of Ulu in the six villages, including his own Umuachala, that compose the federation of Umuaro. He sees himself and his god as beset by two dangers: the growing influence of a nearby Christian mission and the machinations of Ezidemili, a priest of Idemili who aspires to replace Ulu with his own god as paramount deity of Umuaro. Through pride and a misunderstanding, he angers the English district officer and is imprisoned for thirty-two days. Believing everything to be part of Ulu's design for destroying Idemili, he refuses after his release to declare the New Yam festival that allows harvesting; he thus causes incipient famine. When his favorite son dies, he goes mad.
CaptainT.K.Winterbottom, a fifteen-year veteran of service in Africa whose pride and unbending principles have kept him a district officer. His district headquarters is in Okperi, the land neighboring Umuaro and home of Ezeulu's mother. He admires Ezeulu as the only witness, on either side of a land dispute between Okperi and Umuaro, who spoke the truth. When Umuaro and Okperi went to war, Winterbottom intervened decisively and became known as the “Destroyer of Guns.” He now intends to appoint Ezeulu as paramount chief of Umuaro and summons the old priest to Okperi, which leads to perceived insult on both sides and to Ezeulu's imprisonment. Winterbottom's sudden attack of malaria leaves the matter largely in the hands of his assistant, Tony Clarke.
Nwaka (NWAH-kah), the leader of a prosperous family of Umuachala's rival village, Umunneora. He is one of the three citizens of Umuaro who has taken the highest possible (self-awarded) honorific title. He is the lifelong friend and tool of Ezidemili and speaks openly against Ezeulu whenever he has the chance. He incites the desire for war against Okperi and later instigates criticism of Ezeulu's original reply to Winterbottom's summons.
Obika (oh-bee-KAH), Ezeulu's fiery, rowdy, hard-drinking favorite son. He is generally regarded as the most handsome and most accomplished young man of Umuachala. His whipping for tardiness by Wright, the public works officer in charge of building a road through the area, sets the tone of hostility in which Ezeulu later receives the summons from Winterbottom. Defying a fever brought on by the hardship of the delayed yam harvest, Obika fulfills the role of “runner” in a funeral ritual and dies.
Oduche (oh-DEW-cheh), the son whom Ezeulu sends to the mission church/school to learn the ways of Christianity and discover the secrets of its power. He is so far converted as to trap a sacred python and put it in a trunk to suffocate.
Moses Unachukwu (ew-nah-CHEW-kwew), a convert and the first successful missionary to his people in Umuaro. His amazed outburst when Obika attempts to attack Wright for the whipping gives rise to suspicion that he has made derogatory comments to Wright about Obika's family. He fails in attempts to combat Goodcountry's inflammatory exhortations to kill the pythons.
John Goodcountry, a zealous convert from the Niger delta area who advocates Christians' killing of sacred pythons. Later, he capitalizes on Ezeulu's harvest ban by offering immunity from Ulu's anger in exchange for an even larger yam tribute.
John Nwadika (nwah-DEE-kah), a resident of Okperi, Winterbottom's servant. He guides the messenger to Ezeulu. During Ezeulu's imprisonment, he and his wife supply food, drink, and companionship.
Okeke Akukalia (oh-KAY-kay ah-kew-KAH-lee-uh), the son of a “mixed marriage” between Umuaro and Okperi natives. He speaks for the ultimatum and delivers it to Okperi. Ascending insults lead him to destroy a local man's ikenga, a fetish that is broken only after death. He is killed, and the war begins.
Ogbuefi Akuebue (og-bew-EH-fee ah-kew-eh-BEW-eh), a friend and confidant of Ezeulu. In his presence, Ezeulu un-bends enough to laugh and to argue without anger, yet even he finds Ezeulu ultimately unknowable.
Edogo (ay-DOH-goh), Ezeulu's eldest son. He fears that Ezeulu has sent Oduche to the Christians in order to remove him from consideration as the next high priest. His fears are met with gentle contempt by Akuebue.
Ugoye (ew-GOH-yay) and Matefi (mah-TAY-fee), Ezeulu's younger and older wives, respectively. Matefi is jealous of Ugoye's favored treatment, and Ugoye feels harassed by her rival's disapproving comments and actions.