THEMES: Mainly the strory is about the clash between the modern and traditional ways. Two different cultures; Obi being the modern and the Priest being the traditional. this sotry shows that the tradional way is better as the author must agree with the priest because Obi fails at the end. Also education is involved in this story; Obi is the more educated character in the story but it shows that education isn't always positive and supported by the less educated. The last point leads to another theme – the abuse of power or authority. As a headmaster, Obi has the trust of the community; children are society’s most valuable possession. His job is to support and serve the villagers, but because he is so arrogant and believes himself to be better educated, he thinks he knows what these people need and imposes it on them, which is why they rebel.
CONNECTIONS: • Education and teachers: Mr Chase in The Pieces of Silver; Anna Vasilevna in The Winter Oak; Neo in Snapshots of a Wedding • Abuse of Power: The Deputy District Officer in The Gold-Legged Frog; the Tailor’s wife in The Tall Woman; Mr Chase in The Pieces of Silver; the Police Inspector in Leela’s Friend • Conflict between traditional and modern: Neo in Snapshots of a Wedding; Jing-mei and her mother in Two Kinds
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