No Longer At EaseBy: Chinua Achebe

In 1960, while they were still dating, Achebe dedicated to Christie Okoli (wife) his second novel, No Longer at Ease, about a civil servant who is embroiled in the corruption of Lagos. The protagonist is Obi, grandson of Things Fall Apart's main character, Okonkwo.

No Longer At EaseBy: Chinua Achebe

No Longer At EaseSummary

The novel begins with Obi Okonkwo being tried for taking bribe during a time when Obi Okonkwo worked for the Scholarship Board which offered scholarships for deserving students to travel overseas to study. Once Obi Okonkwo has taken over job at the Scholarship board, there is an attempt by a man who tries to offer bribe to Obi Okonkwo so as to obtain a scholarship for his little sister. Obi Okonkwo survives this attempt but he is later visited with a second. The second: Obi Okonkwo is visited by the girl herself and the girl attempts to bribe Obi with sexual favors in return for the scholarship. Again, Obi Okonkwo does not succumb to it.

No Longer At EaseSummary

Before Obi Okonkwo could travel for his four year British education, the members of the Umuofia Progressive Union (UPU) gather money for Obi’s travel. Obi Okonkwo was to study law as it was the hope of the UPU but we see Obi switch his major to English and so he arrives back in his village with an English certificate in his brief case.

No Longer At EaseSummary

As the novel advances, Obi Okonkwo develop a romantic relationship with Clara Okeke. Clara Okeke is an osu or an outcast by her descendants. Obi Okonkwo wanted to marry Clara yet his parents does not agree. Marrying an osu meant going contrary to the traditional set up of the Igbo people. Whiles Obi’s Christian father opposes Obi’s intent; his mother threatens to kill herself should Obi marry an osu. Clara relays to Obi that she is pregnant when Obi had told her of the disagreements by his parent for the two to marry. Obi arranges for an abortion for Clara but Clara gets complications and would not see Obi afterwards.

No Longer At EaseSummary

By the end of the novel, Obi is taking a bribe and he assures himself that that will be last one he would take. He is arrested and then tried as was the case of the opening chapter.

No Longer At EaseConclusion

Bribery and corruption

Love

Family and tradition

Discrimination