September 20, 2016

Reaction Paper: The Dead Mens Path

Grade 11- ABM 115

Tradition is ones cultures treasure. It is valued and nurtured with the peoples might and
as long as they can due to the fact that this is their ancestors heritage. Heritage that was given
and imparted to us, the people of the present, and also for those who will be living in the future.
It is truly important that some people are willing to argue to those who disregard it and to
preserve it. Just as like what happened in the story given for us to read, The Dead Mens Path.

The Dead Mens Path, a short story written by Chinua Achebe, is about a clever and
passionate teacher named Obi, who was promoted as the headmaster of failing school. He and
his wife Nancy, have countless plans to renovate the school and modernize it. His over
determined attempt to improve the school in his own way made his decision to block off the
ancestral footpath that transects with the school gardens. Obi, who values modernization
disregards the traditions and thought that this belief is trivial. In spite of the village priests effort
to forewarn him, he ignores the villagers complaint and does not respect their tradition. In the
end, Obi found out that his actions brought him his undesirable fate.

In every arguments, there are always sides to agree with. Sides that divide us. Commonly,
one side rules and the other side was ruled. In the story, no one attempted to go against the flow
until the concerned village priest made the move. If I was on his shoes, I would probably act the
same to stand on the side of what I believe. After this incident, people had the courage to revolt
and make a way win the battle between sides of beliefs. The people fought to keep the path open
so that those who pass away can rest in peace and this tradition will be carried on for generations
to come, far beyond the lives of the priests, villagers and even Obi. In the end, like any other
revolution, the side that possesses the numerous people to stand on their belief with the
motivation and willpower wins the fight.

The short story that was meant for us to read illustrates the significance of respecting
ones tradition. We cant deny the fact that tradition cant be separated to people of many cultures
therefore each and every one of us should regard diverse tradition. Traditions that serves as our
important legacy because it is our cultures treasure.