Arrow of God
“How does it concern you what I do with my sons? You say you do not want not want Oduche to follow strange ways. Do you not know that in a great man’s household there must be people who follow all kinds of strange ways? There must be good people and bad people, honest workers and thieves, peace-makers and destroyers; that is the mark of a great obi. In such a place, whatever music you beat on your drum there is somebody who can dance to it.”
“‘A man does not speak a lie to his son,’ he said. ‘Remember that always. To say My father told me is to swear the greatest oath. You are only a little boy, but I was no older when my father began to confide in me. Do you remember what I am saying?’”
— Arrow of God
Chinua Achebe
A Review:
When many people hear Chinua Achebe, their minds immediately go to Things Fall Apart. Whether it was in college, high school, or in their leisure time they were able to see the brilliance of this writer and feel the story. However, there are two other books that have a wealth of knowledge and wisdom that document the rapid changes in Nigerian society. These books are known as the African trilogy and the third book is Arrow of God. Arrow of God follows the changes in Umuaro through the life and thoughts of Ezeulu. The process of colonialism was not purely a physical undertaking but was actualized through a spiritual process. The plot is derived from the religious battle waged between the traditionalists and the encroaching Christians. Ezeulu is the chief priest of his village– serving as the arrow of God’s will. Ezeulu battles the encroachment of colonialists. In his pursuits to defend his religion and society, one can say he is overly righteous. However, he realized the threat at hand from the beginning. The story alone is enough to make the book good, but the sagacity delivered through the dialogue elevates the novel to a must-read. The book serves as an anthology of proverbs and thoughts from Igbo tradition. The book ends up having a chess-like feel due to the combination of plot and knowledge. It is a shame many people have not had the access or wherewithal to read the third book in the trilogy. Achebe does not miss a beat with the Arrow of God.