Essay Draft Three

Claire Huo

June 5, 2007

Draft Three

Innovation vs. Tradition：Dilemma or Balance
 

In the era of information exploration, changes are taking place in every corner of the world in every minute. While we are enjoying the convenience and comfort that numerous inventions have brought us, we are also faced with the inevitable and sustainable conflicts between innovation and tradition. It is not wise to take a blind eye to it. On the contrary, we have to take it into consideration. However, it remains a question how to handle the problem. As a matter of fact, such imbalance is not merely the product of modern times. Arguments about it can be traced back into the history of mankind.

At the beginning of the story, Obi is presented as an ambitious and energetic young man, a representative of modern methods. Like many newly-appointed leaders, he has many wonderful ideas, and he desires strongly to donate all his time and energy to his job of changing the school into a modern one with a high academic standard and a place of beauty as well. 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 outspoken “condemnation of the narrow views of these older and often less-educated ones” (52) and his over-confidence, on the other hand, lead to his ignorance of seeking the balance and all the conflicts are caused by this imbalance.

In addition to the direct description of the appearance, the expression and the language of the main character Obi, Obi’s wife’s remarks also reflect his initiative and enthusiastic personality as well as his shallow understanding of innovation. In her reply to Obi’s great ambition, she suggests that they “shall have such beautiful gardens and everything will be just modern and delightful…” (52) The author expresses his attitude ironically to innovators’ ignorance by means of setting such a role, which seems to be a bit vain and skin-deep. The author’s critical perspective toward their regardless of the existing traditional society when they suppose to realize their great dream of carrying out some transformation, 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.

Moreover, the fascinating scenery description of “Nancy’s dream-gardens” with “Beautiful hibiscus and allemande hedges in brilliant red and yellow” (53) indicates their dream of the brilliant future of the school, a modern place of dependence and democracy, and also a paradise where blind religious beliefs are to be eradicated. However the beautiful dream severely conflicts with the tough reality. In the end of the story, author shows us a tragic scene of the eventually ruined school. “The flowers trampled to death and one of the school buildings pulled down…” (54) Obi is punished by the whole village. 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. It never bothers Obi to think about ordinary villagers’ feeling. They have already taken the path as the symbol of their unshakeable belief. The disaster may be avoided if Obi has chosen a milder road of innovation or taken more care of the conservative villagers.

A fierce battle is unavoidable as the crisis gradually transforms into a face-to-face conflict. The author draws a vivid image of the village priest of Ani, “an old man and walking with a slight stoop” (54) He usually “tapped a stout walking-stick on the floor, by way of emphasis, each time he made a new point in his argument”(54). By no means, he is the 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, giving some way or pushing his plan step by step, the conflicts may be overcome.

At last, the overnight damage is carried out by all the villagers who gather and ruin the newly-built structures in the school. The supervisor’s report sentences Obi to death. His clear identification declares that Obi receives absolute failure at last. Thus Obi’s dismal career future pushes the story to the peak. 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.

People like Obi often have definite goals and will stick to the path to fulfill them. They are energetic and ambitious. 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 due to the 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 readers’ deep thinking.

Why is Obi, a person who might bring the earth-shaking innovation to the old world, 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 or that the special background of the times baffles such kind of innovation. 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.

Work Cited

Chinua Achebe. “Dead Men’s Path.” 1953. Prt. in The International Story: An Anthology with Guidelines for Reading and Writing about Fiction. Ruth Spark. New York: St. Martin’s 1994. 52-55

25.5.07 03:21