He was outspoken in his condemnation of the narrow views of these older and often less-educated ones.

Obi expresses a tendency for being baffled by the actions and beliefs of his elders. He has a reputation for denigrating people with whom he disagrees, even other teachers. Not only does he believe that his ways are correct, but he wants others to know that he thinks they are wrong. This sets up the dichotomy that will carry the plot of the story. The old will be pushed to the side by Obi and his fanaticism, but will reassert itself in the way tradition often does in the face of an imposed cultural shift.

Beautiful hibiscus and allamanda hedges in brilliant red and yellow marked out the carefully tended school compound from the rank neighborhood bushes.

The flowers and their gardens are emblematic of the new, modern life that Obi and Nancy want to bring to the school and the surrounding village. They sit in stark contrast to the native plants and trees that thrive outside the boundaries of the school yard. Their bright beauty symbolizes the imposition of the Obis’ system of thought on that of the village, and Obi’s attempt to sever the village from their traditional beliefs, even to the extent that he hopes to teach the young villagers to mock the ridiculousness of their culture.