Chinua Achebe's "No Longer at Ease"
Novel begins and we find that The Umuofia Progressive Union (U.P.U) has given Obi Okonkwo a scholarship to study law in England, a scholarship that Obi has to pay back upon his return. And, thus, he leaves for England, stopping in Lagos on the way out. While in England, several things happen to him. First, he changes his course of study to English and abandons law. Secondly, he finds himself nostalgic for home, writing poems about Nigeria. Finally, he meets a girl named Clara at a dance in London, the girl is Nigerian, and they begin a relationship after 4 years.
Obi stay in Lagos with his friend Joseph, trying to find a job and a place of his own. He also visits his own home village of Umuofia. Obi is quickly given a post on the Scholarship Board of the Civil Service and is also introduced to the world of bribery, which is a world he rejects. A man offers Obi money for his little sister's scholarship. Obi rejects the offer, only later to be met at home by the little sister herself who offers Obi her body in return for the scholarship. Again, Obi rejects this offer.
Obi begins his life in Nigeria in an honest way, Clara tells him that she cannot marry him because she is an osu, an outcast. Obi decides to ignore this and he decides he will marry her. His economic hardship worsens. Obi then receives a letter from his father telling him that he must go home. When he arrives at home he sees that his mother is very ill. And, his parents tell him he must not marry Clara because she is an osu. In fact, Obi's dying mother tells him that if he insists on marrying Clara, he must wait until she is dead because if he marries Clara while she is alive, she will kill herself. Obi returns back to Lagos and tells Clara all that has happened. Clara becomes angry and breaks off the engagement, also hinting at the fact that she is pregnant. It is at this point when Obi arranges an abortion. He does not have the money and needs to borrow it. Clara is hospitalized, after which she refuses to see Obi.
Obi is informed that his mother has died. He does not go home for the funeral, and the U.P.U. discusses this failure on Obi's behalf as a sign of his not having cared about his mother's death. The truth, however, is that he was terribly saddened by her death, feels terrible remorse, and has entered into a state of mental unrest. However, Obi awakes from this unrest with a new sense of calm. He feels like a new man, and it is at this point that he takes his first bribe without guilt.
Obi started taking bribes, when Obi decides he cannot stand it anymore. He has paid off all of his debts and can no longer be a part of the corruption. It is at this moment, however, when he has taken his last bribe, that he is caught and then begins a trial against Obi.
Obi stay in Lagos with his friend Joseph, trying to find a job and a place of his own. He also visits his own home village of Umuofia. Obi is quickly given a post on the Scholarship Board of the Civil Service and is also introduced to the world of bribery, which is a world he rejects. A man offers Obi money for his little sister's scholarship. Obi rejects the offer, only later to be met at home by the little sister herself who offers Obi her body in return for the scholarship. Again, Obi rejects this offer.
Obi begins his life in Nigeria in an honest way, Clara tells him that she cannot marry him because she is an osu, an outcast. Obi decides to ignore this and he decides he will marry her. His economic hardship worsens. Obi then receives a letter from his father telling him that he must go home. When he arrives at home he sees that his mother is very ill. And, his parents tell him he must not marry Clara because she is an osu. In fact, Obi's dying mother tells him that if he insists on marrying Clara, he must wait until she is dead because if he marries Clara while she is alive, she will kill herself. Obi returns back to Lagos and tells Clara all that has happened. Clara becomes angry and breaks off the engagement, also hinting at the fact that she is pregnant. It is at this point when Obi arranges an abortion. He does not have the money and needs to borrow it. Clara is hospitalized, after which she refuses to see Obi.
Obi is informed that his mother has died. He does not go home for the funeral, and the U.P.U. discusses this failure on Obi's behalf as a sign of his not having cared about his mother's death. The truth, however, is that he was terribly saddened by her death, feels terrible remorse, and has entered into a state of mental unrest. However, Obi awakes from this unrest with a new sense of calm. He feels like a new man, and it is at this point that he takes his first bribe without guilt.
Obi started taking bribes, when Obi decides he cannot stand it anymore. He has paid off all of his debts and can no longer be a part of the corruption. It is at this moment, however, when he has taken his last bribe, that he is caught and then begins a trial against Obi.
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