The Developing Obi

Author’s Note: This piece is about how the main character, Obi from the short story “Dead Man’s Path” by Chinua Achebe changes during the story.

Imagine getting the chance to have your dream job, early in your career. Think about wanting to change the schools culture, just because it wasn’t modern enough. Lastly, dream about the whole tribe at your school coming down on you because you were altering their culture. This is how the events and actions change Obi as a character in the short story “Dead Man’s Path” by Chinua Achebe.
When Obi is first elected as principal of the school, he and his wife think that they can go there and change everything about it. The appearance, the teachers, what the kids are learning, and even the culture were all altered in some way. Although the largest thing that he changed was the path that went in and out of this ancestral footpath. All of this changes Obi because he finally realizes that different towns have different aspects that make it unique and that it’s never a good idea to change them.
Consequently, the enigmatic Obi changed as a character in the story “Dead Man’s Path” by Chinua Achebe because he changed other people’s cultures!