An Exploration of the “Arrow of God”: Inspirations, Reflections and Lessons for Nigeria’s Democratic Evolution
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Date
2016-06
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Lokoja: The Department of English and Literary Studies, Federal University, Lokoja
Abstract
This study is an exploration into the various characters in Chinua Achebe’s Arrow of God with the intent of identifying some of their character traits that are pro-democratic and those that are anti-democratic. This is with the consciousness that the system of government in the story is largely theocratic as exemplified by the enormous influence of Ezeulu on the political, socio-economic as well as religious life of the people of Umuaro and its environs. The consequences of the pro and anti-democratic traits of the various characters in the story are explained as very much relevant lessons applicable to the survival of the current democratic experiment in Nigeria. Thus, the author proves that Chinua Achebe’s Arrow of God is as relevant to Nigeria’s political life as it was when it was first published fifty years ago. It also demonstrates the fact that Literature, being a re-presentation of life, has great potentiality to transform a nation like Nigeria, provided such literary materials find their way into a reading community.
Description
Peer reviewed
Keywords
arrow of God, anti-democracy, Nigeria, citizenship
Citation
Olatunji, S. O. (2016). An Exploration of the “Arrow of God”: Inspirations, Reflections and Lessons for Nigeria’s Democratic Evolution. Olatunde Ayodabo, Upah Nahum Butari, Onah Patrick, Oreoluwa Abraham (Eds.) Linguistics, Language and Literature. A Festschift for Gbenga Solomon Ibileye pp 655-658