Noah Pfister: Achebe's: The Madman

Noah Pfister
World Lit. Survey III
Prof. Benander
19 April 201.

Achebe's: "The Madman"

      In his attempt to awaken his own culture and to draw support from the west, Achebe writes a short story called, "The Madman".   The story is written to express how the African culture is being crippled by all the negitive talk of colonization. During the story, one of Achebe's characters has his plants stolen while he was down by the river. After realizing they were stolen, the man ran after his offender; upon reaching the crowded market place, the man began to scream at the bystanders to assist him in retreaving his pants.  With out a second thought, members within the crowed quickly grabbed the naked screaming man and accompanied him home. 

     

It is interesting to note that although the man did indeed need some help, the assistance he received was of no use to him.  Achebe wishes to draw a similarity between this and the help Africa received from outside countries.  Africa may have need some help from outside sources,  however Africa didn't need all of Europe to step in and take over its territories 

Achebe continues his story by writing how everyone assuming that the man running throughout the market place was crazy. Everyone in the village was convinced that due to his extreme behavior, the man must have been completely nuts.  As time passes, the man doesn't speak and the people assume that the mental condition is permanent.   

The towns people have just given up hope, when a young doctor agrees to treat the man. After treatment, the man begins to talk and is accepted back as a cured individual.

       

 The irony of this story, is that the man was never crazy in the first place. He was just man with rage that his pants were stolen and he was being forced to run around town in his bare skin (Personally, that would frustrate me as well!).   The towns people automatically assume that this man is nuts, forgetting to take into the account for the situation and the circumstances.   As a result of being accused repeatedly for a mental issue, the man eventually shuts down and begins to accept that maybe really is crazy. 

This is the main point that Achebe wishes for us as readers to focus on.  Due to the repeated accusations, the man in the story (although completely sain) began to buy into the accusations of insanity. Achebe is making the statement, that if you tell someone that they are crazy long enough the will begin to question there own sanity. 

This is was the invading nations are doing to African culture. Outsiders are persistently  downgrading the people the point were the culture has started to view themselves as worthless, meaningless, low class individuals. Achebe writes to remind us as readers to not buy into the media and the stories of the low class Africa. But rather to look at the situation and to find the reasons for Africa;s outcries and the cause behind thier devastated culture. 

Noah Pfister: "The Strangleholf of English Lit."

Noah Pfister

World Lit Surv. III

Prof. Benander

4 April 2011


       Written by Felix Mnthali, "The Stranglehold of English Lit." seeks to bring to light several issues that arise from English literature. Mnthali wishes to state that English isn't as grand as it seems; but rather it is a language that mocks and pokes at those who have been abused.  This poem is a waring cry for all Africans who are wishing to be Educated in English literature. Mnthali is fearful that Englishing is dulling the sense of the Africans, he is worried that those who give into the elegance of English will forget the history of mocking and irony.

However, it is interesting to me that Mnthali has written a poem such as this. Despite his words of warning, he himself was trained in the English school. Therefore, I can only assume that he writes this poem in response to the issues his fellow Africans were forgetting. Mnthali wishes to reminds readers that they must not blindly give into colonization, that they must remember the hardships and the cruel jokes told at the African expense.

       After reading this poem and comparing it to a previous reading, "Gentlemen of the Jungle," I have found this poem to be a more intellectual response. This poem presents an attitude of one that suggests sitting, looking, remembering, and waiting for a better opportunity. Through the poem, I feel Mnthali asks questions that cause readers to stop and think of a better solution than just brute force.  This differs greatly from the methods presented in the "Gentlemen of the Jungle;" these involve complete force. Kenyatta pushes for individuals to forget the courts and the literature and begin to fight back. While Mnthali suggests using education to help, but always continuing to maintain respect for the damage English has caused.