Chinua Achebe’s Dead Men’s Path and Judith Ortiz Cofer’s Quinceanera are interesting pieces of literature that highlight different cultures and their struggle with modernization. The central theme in the two pieces of literature revolves around addressing human conflicts in an ever changing social environment. The major difference between Achebe’s writing and Cofer’s is that while Dead Mens’ Path is written in prose, Quinceanera is written in verse. Prose writing describes writing in a normal language with complete sentences and paragraphs whereas verse writing involves writing in a poetic language with stanzas and other stylistic devices such as rhyme schemes. Chinua Achebe is a versed story teller borrowing from his rich tradition as a Nigerian Igbo. His approach in addressing what is happening in his land was largely influenced by his upbringing, growing up as a devout Christian since his father was a Christian missionary (Gilley, 2016). Judith Ortiz Cofer has an equally interesting history growing up in Latin America as a Puertorican. Her poem Quinceanera highlights the struggle of a young girl transforming into adulthood in an equally unstable Spanish culture that is struggling with a new faith and keeping with tradition (Gale, 2016).
Both articles seem to be addressing the sudden tension that exists between traditional customs and westernization. Achebe and Cofer humorously talks about how the cultures are crashing into each other. Michael Obi, in Dead Men’s Path , is confident that he can transform the spiritual beliefs of the small village in Ndume. He works hard to change the unprogressive school by insisting on high educational standards and the beautification of the school compound. Obi and his wife had achieved much success in transforming the school when they are hard hit by the realities in the village. Apparently, the people have to conduct their burial rituals which they regard highly than the white man’s education being propagated by Obi. The traditional path that cuts through the school connecting the village shrine to the places of burial has to be closed to avoid outside interference. A villager dies while giving birth and her death is attributed to the acts of sacrilege by the school administration. The school is brought down in a rage that shakes Obi to the core. Similarly, the young girl in Quinceanera wonders why her transformation into adulthood is met with such unfair treatment in a society that is supposed to be upholding love and tolerance as was being propagated by Christianity. “I am to wash my own clothes and sheets from this day on, as if the fluids of my body were poison, as if the little trickle of blood I believe travels from my heart to the world were shameful. Is not the blood of saints and men in battle beautiful?” (Cofer, 1991). This quote demonstrates the unfair and unjust treatment that women were subdued to; although menstrual cycle is a natural biological occurrence women were unreasonably treated because of it.
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The purpose of the diversity in time and culture in the two literary pieces is to emphasize the role of literature as a reflector of society. Literature addresses social ills (Lowenthal, 2017). For instance, one realizes the universal gender role differences. In Dead Men’s Path, the wife to Obi is introduced at the beginning of the story as a primary caregiver and her role diminishes throughout the story. The girl in Quinceanera happens to be struggling with her identity as a woman in the community. Having her menses puts undue shame on her identity that makes her wonder why the bloodshed by men in battle is glorified over hers which brings forth life into the world.
References
Cofer, J. O. (1991). Silent dancing: A partial remembrance of a Puerto Rican childhood . Arte Publico Press.
Gale, C. L. (2016). A Study Guide for Judith Ortiz Cofer's" American History". Gale, Cengage Learning.
Gilley, B. (2016). Chinua Achebe on the positive legacies of colonialism. African Affairs , 115(461), 646-663.
Lowenthal, L. (2017). Literature and the Image of Man: Volume 2, Communication in Society . Routledge.
