ABSTRACT: This research work is set to examine The Themes of Corruption and Violence in Chinua Achebe’s a Man of the People and Anthills of the Savannah. In analysing the two novels it is discovered that Achebe is one of the prolific African writers whose work of art depicts the socio political issues affecting the Nigerian society like Corruption and Violence. The study also revealed that Corruption and Violence are two major themes confronting our Nigerian society as the result of misleading and corrupt practices of some political leaders in our country Nigeria. In A Man of the People, Achebe uses Chief Nanga as an example greedy and corrupt politician who imposes violence and oppresses the masses the masses like Odeli and other members of the cabinet.
Looking at Anthills of the Savannah, Achebe portrays how Sam His Excellency became over ambitious and officious and wanted to be a life-president as he imposes violence when he sees Ikem and Chris as brains behind his failure and he became unhappy with them, this consequently makes him took Beatrice, Chris girl. Achebe at this point sees the Nigerian politicians as been the causes of Nigerian predicaments like corruption, violence and poverty that have been affecting the poor masses in the society. The study therefore recommends good literature novels with good moral lessons should be recommended to the learners on pupils and students as a gateway of eradicating the corruption and violence in our Nigerian society and Africa as a whole.
The Themes of Corruption and Violence in Chinua Achebe’s a Man of the People and Anthills of the Savannah
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background to the study
Chinua Achebe belongs to Nigeria’s first generation writers. He is a Nigerian novelist and critic. He is one of the most-read African authors. His works have primarily focused on “African politics, the depiction of African cultures and Africans characters in the West and the intricacies of pre-colonial African cultures and civilization, as well as the effects of colonisation of African societies. For instance, Achebe shows the switching of power in A Man of the People between the old and the new politicians and how the old style politician, Chief Nanga who is becoming greedier as he learns the political system.
Achebe at this point portrays how African societies are faced with different political problems like corruption, violence, political oppression and political disillusionment because of mal-administration, dictatorship and excessive socio-political discrimination in the society. Consequently, it is on these issues that the researcher is motivated to research on the topic, Corruption and violence in A Man of the People and Anthills of the Savannah with a view of eliminating the socio-cultural, political and economic problems affecting the Nigerian society.
These issues of political corruption, political disillusionment and socio-political violence in the Nigerian society have been the major concerns in his works and Nigeria political sphere. Looking at A Man of the People and Anthills of the Savannah for instance, Achebe writes these two novels to condemn the African and Nigerian politicians precisely on their negative and nasty way of ruling the poor Nigerian masses. According to him, the Nigerian politicians are bereft of right thinking mentality and so must be corrected. The more reason he has written these novels is to check their excesses accordingly.
Moreover, Achebe lambasts the ordinary people in different African societies for hailing, abetting and praising African corrupt politicians whom they are supposed to condemn for their misdeeds. To Achebe, the people in African societies should recognize that African politicians need to be put in the right track by the society pinpointing their wrongs in order that African societies become better and wholesome socially, economically and politically. Achebe, a morally upright personality is one man who believes that no society can experience any progress in an atmosphere of corruption and other unwholesome practices, hence the reason he has written these novels as weapon of attack on corrupt politicians and the society at large.
Again, to Achebe, any society that breed corruption can never develop and so the people of Africa should live an upright way of life so that we can have an ideal African Societies free from social vices of all sorts. He therefore uses this novel to condemn the worshipping of Corrupt Politicians by the ordinary people in the different Africa societies.
To Achebe when people hail and praise corrupt politicians, over their wealth, they are indirectly endorsing corruption in the society. It is our contention therefore that Achebe without doubt has achieved his purpose of writing these novels in exposing the mindset of those who Join politics and the ordinary people`s belief concerning the need to grab favuors from politicians when they are indeed supposed to condemn these corrupt people in government.
1.2 Statement of the Problem
Achebe’s writings are on the notion that, corruption and violence are the causes of social vices confronting the Nigerian society today. This is more evident in the periods succeeding the independence of Nigeria. He pictured the materialistic issues of corruption and violence in his critical works under investigation. In A Man of the People and Anthills of the Savannah for instance, Achebe depicts the consequences of political and socio-cultural conflicts as negative issues that have been hunting African societies and Nigeria precisely.
The Themes of Corruption and Violence in Chinua Achebe’s a Man of the People and Anthills of the Savannah
1.3 Purpose of the Study
The purpose of this research work is to discuss the themes of corruption and violence in Chinua Achebe’s A Man of the People and Anthills of the Savannah. The study will also examine and proffer solution to these issues of corruption and violence in our Nigerian society.
1.4 Significance of the Study
The study will be significant in the following ways; the works of Chinua Achebe will be beneficial to students of English and Literary studies by exposing the problems of corruption and violence in African society.
