“It had always been an unprogressive school, so the Mission authorities decided to send a young and energetic man to run it.” (52) The story begins with Michael Obi’s being appointed as headmaster of a school which has been long governed by conservatives. However, Obi represents the opposite in running the school. He is an ambitious and energetic young man, who is the representative of modern methods. He has many wonderful ideas, and he strongly desires to donate all his time and energy to his job, changing the unprogressive school into a modern one with a high academic standard and a place of beauty as well. “He was outspoken in his condemnation of the narrow views of these older and often less-educated ones.”(52) The first paragraph’s description builds up the initial comparison between the old traditional society and the modern headmaster, which tells the wedge of the story and implies the possibility of the following conflicts. Obi’s over-confidence, on the other hand, will lead to his ignorance of seeking the balance.

In addition to the direct description of the appearance, the expression and the language of the main character, Obi’s wife’s remarks also indirectly reflect his initiative and enthusiastic personality as well as his shallow understanding of innovation. Is there any sense of the existence of Nancy? (This question was once discussed on the ICA) I say yes. “We shall do our best,” she replied. “We shall have such beautiful gardens everything will be just modern and delightful…” (52) She is a little vain and her thought is skin-deep to some extent. The author expresses his attitude ironically, to innovators’ ignorance by means of setting such a role, which seems to be a bit silly and tacky. The author’s critical perspective, toward their regardless of the practical situation when they adopt great ideas to reality, is best extended in the setting of Nancy, while the entirety of the character Obi is still well preserved. Such an ingenious design of the story also contributes to the smooth advancement of the plot and helps to convey Obi’s ignorance.

The brilliant description of Obi’s wife’s dream-gardens in the story is still very impressive, though the language of the story is quite clear and sententious. “Nancy’s dream-gardens came to life with the coming of the rains, and blossomed. Beautiful hibiscus and allemande hedges in brilliant red and yellow marked out the carefully tended school compound from the rank neighbourhood bushes.”(53) The fascinating scenery description indicates their dream of the brilliant future of the school, a modern place of dependence and democracy, and a paradise where blind religious beliefs are to be eradicated. However it severely conflicts with the tough reality. In the end of the story, author shows us s tragic scene of the eventually ruined school, “The beautiful hedges were torn up not just near the path but right round the school, the flowers trampled to death and one of the school buildings pulled down…” (54) It is shocking enough to rouse readers’ deep thinking of the reason why it is so sharp a turn from the beautiful dream to the perdition. That is Obi’s improper handling the relation between tradition and modern methods.

As the crisis gradually transforms into a face-to-face conflict, a fierce battle then become unavoidable. The appearing of the village priest of Ani brings silent threats. The author draws a vivid image of him. “He was an old man and walked with a slight stoop. He carried a stout walking-stick which he usually tapped on the floor, by way of emphasis, each time he made a new point in his argument.” (54) By no means, he is a sincere representative of the conservative and the traditional society. He will never give way on the crucial issues such as pulling down the path through which dead men go and children come in to be born. The dialogs between Obi and the priest are cold. Both of them firmly adhere to their own principles and will never reach any compromise. They both go to extremes. In my opinion, though it is not all Obi’s faulty, he should take active action to look for an effective way to build up communication, instead of just being stick to his own thoughts. As he is the innovator and it is him who intends to make some changes, he has the responsibility to make himself understood. This kind of effort must be based on his understanding and respect of the existent tradition world. However, it is exactly what Obi lacks. If he can pursue more balance, the conflicts may be overcome.

At last, the overnight damage is carried out by all the villagers and thus Obi’s dismal career future pushes the story to the peak. In the supervisor’s report “tribal-war situation developing between the school and the village, arising in part from the misguided zeal of the new headmaster.” (54), his clear identification declares that Obi receives absolute failure at last. The story ends, with an ironic echo to all the details previously stated. The plot of the whole story is reasonable and impressive and the ending is sharp and oppressive. The tragedy is doomed as Obi’s persists in blind innovation.

Personally, I love persons who are energetic and have initiative. New ideas occur to them from time to time. People of this kind also have definite goals and will stick to the path to fulfill them. No matter the difficulties and the frustration they may meet with, they adjust their direction but never give up halfway. Nevertheless, I feel so sorry that because of his ignorance, Obi has no chance to realize his dream and rescue the school and save all the students from the dark control of the religion power and the stupid beliefs. The theme behind words is the soul of a story. Such an ending arouses my deep thinking.

Why Obi, a person who might bring the earth-shaking innovation to the old world, is eventually defeated? What causes that all his plans are obstructed by the opposite faction and vanish like bubbles? Obviously the main reason is that Obi’s ignorance to the balance between respects to traditional religion and beliefs and the innovation of civilization, while other minor ones are also relevant, as that the conservative religion power is so strong and so infrangible and the regard of the special background of times, etc. To carry out a reform means to abandon old methods and to adopt new ones. However, Rome is not built in a day. This progress might be slow and step by step. To pay more attention to the tradition part and the practical conditions will enable the innovation to be carried out more smoothly. In order to build a harmonious society, we should pursue a balance between audacious innovation and respect to tradition. I am deeply convinced that this concept could also be applied to a wide range of fields, from management system of a company to economical or political reform of a country.