1. Smart
Obi Okonkwo is a smart person. We can see this from Obi Okonkwo’s background before his going to England. He went to England because he got a
scholarship from Umofia Progressive union. Six or seven years ago Umofians abroad had formed their Union with the
aim of collecting money to send some of their brighter young men to study in England. They taxed themselves mercilessly. The first scholarship under
this scheme was awarded to Obi Okonkwo five years ago, almost to the day. 8
Obi Okonkwo does not have any difficulty to get the scholarship. The Umofia Progressive Union chooses Obi because they have a good reason for it.
They think that Obi is smart because they know that Obi Okonkwo has good achievements in his school.
The selection of the first candidate had not presented any difficulty to the Union. Obi was an obvious choice. At the age of twelve or thirteen he had
passed his Standard Six examination at the top of the whole province. Then he had won a scholarship to one of the best secondary schools in
Eastern Nigeria. At the end of five years he passed the Cambridge School Certificate with distinction in all eight subjects. He was in fact a village
celebrity, and his name was regularly invoked at the mission school where he had once been a pupil. 8-9
Obi Okonkwo is known as a smart pupil in his school. Obi Okonkwo always get good result in every subject and always at the top of the class. That is
why his teacher used to say that someday Obi Okonkwo will go to England because of his smartness.
“You remember Mr. Anene, our class teacher, used to say that you would go to England. You were so small then with a running nose, and yet at the
end of every term you were at the top of the class. You remember we used to call you “Dictionary’?” 41
Besides Obi Okonkwo’s background before his going to England, there are some reasons why Obi Okonkwo is considered as a smart person. After his
return from England, there is a reception to welcome Obi Okonkwo. On this occasion, the welcome address states that the Umofia Progressive Union state that
Obi Okonkwo has great success in education. “Sir, we the officers and members of the above-named Union present with humility and gratitude this token of our
appreciation of your unprecedented academic brilliant. . . .” 36. Obi Okonkwo’s smartness is proved by his speech on the occasion. On the
occasion, Obi Okonkwo has a chance to give a speech to the audience. Obi Okonkwo uses this chance to give the audience the idea of the value of education.
Obi Okonkwo speech about education shows that Obi Okonkwo is smart because he has a wide view of education.
He told them about the value of education. “Education for service, not for white-collar jobs and comfortable salaries. With our great country on the
threshold of independence, we need men who are prepared to serve her well and truly.” 37
From the author’s direct comments, character as seen by another, and the character’s speech, it can be seen that Obi Okonkwo is a smart person. He is smart
so that he deserves the chance to study in England. In addition, his smartness enables him to be considered as an excellent and brilliant person. Obi Okonkwo is
a smart and knowledgeable person.
2. Dishonest
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