No Longer at Ease

# Essay Prompt: *No Longer at Ease* by Chinua Achebe **Prompt:** In *No Longer at Ease*, Chinua Achebe portrays Obi Okonkwo as a man caught between two conflicting worlds — the traditional Igbo values of his homeland and the colonial Western systems in which he has been educated. **Argue that Obi's tragic downfall is not simply due to personal moral weakness, but rather a predictable outcome of the irreconcilable cultural and systemic contradictions he must navigate.** In your essay, make sure to: - Identify and analyze at least **two specific conflicts** (internal or external) that illustrate the tension between tradition and modernity in the novel. - Explore how Achebe utilizes **Obi's relationships with Clara, his family, and the colonial bureaucracy** to highlight this central tension. - Reflect on how the **framing device** (the novel begins with Obi's conviction) influences the reader's understanding of his choices and character. - Assess the degree to which **systemic corruption and colonial legacy** play a role in shaping Obi's fate in addition to his personal shortcomings. **Length:** 4–6 paragraphs (or as specified by your teacher) **Format:** Formal literary essay with textual evidence and citations

ap_lit · ib_lang_lit · aqa · post_colonial_lit

# Essay Prompt: *No Longer at Ease* by Chinua Achebe **Prompt:** In *No Longer at Ease*, Chinua Achebe portrays Obi Okonkwo as a man torn between two worlds — the traditional Igbo values instilled in him during his upbringing and the Westernized, colonial Nigeria he navigates as an educated civil servant. Write a well-developed argumentative essay in which you contend that Obi's tragic downfall stems primarily from **internal conflict rather than external circumstance**. Use specific evidence from the novel to analyze how Obi's struggle to reconcile his dual identity — as both a modern Nigerian and a son of his community — ultimately leads to his moral and professional collapse. --- **Guiding Questions to Consider:** - How does Achebe depict Obi's relationships with Clara and his family to highlight the tension between personal desires and communal responsibilities? - In what ways does Obi's perspective on corruption evolve throughout the novel, and what does this evolution reveal about his character? - How does the novel's framing device (beginning with Obi's conviction) influence the reader's perception of inevitability and agency? --- **Requirements:** - Formulate a clear, arguable thesis that takes a stance on the *primary* cause of Obi's downfall. - Bolster your argument with at least **three pieces of textual evidence**. - Address and counter a **counterargument** (for example, that colonial structures or financial pressures are solely responsible). - Maintain a formal academic tone throughout.

ap_lit · ib_lang_lit · aqa · common_core

# Essay Prompt: *No Longer at Ease* by Chinua Achebe **Prompt:** In *No Longer at Ease*, Chinua Achebe portrays Obi Okonkwo as a man trapped between two worlds: the traditional Igbo values of his homeland and the colonial Western systems in which he has been educated. **Argue that Obi's ultimate downfall stems from this cultural and moral dislocation, rather than merely reflecting a failure of personal character.** In your essay, make sure to: - Analyze how Achebe uses Obi's relationships (e.g., with Clara, his family, and the Umuofia Progressive Union) to highlight the competing pressures of tradition and modernity. - Examine how the novel's structure — starting with Obi's conviction and unfolding in retrospect — influences the reader’s perception of tragedy and inevitability. - Discuss how Achebe critiques both colonial institutions and indigenous customs as contributing factors to Obi's demise. - Support your argument with close textual evidence, paying attention to Achebe's diction, imagery, and allusions (including the T.S. Eliot epigraph). **Length:** 4–6 pages (approximately 1,000–1,500 words) **Format:** Standard academic essay with introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion; MLA or Chicago citation style.

ap_lit · ib_lang_lit · aqa · postcolonial_lit