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.