summary of The Arrow of God by Chinua Achebe
The Arrow of God - Chinua Achebe The phrase Arrow of God is taken from Igbo proverb which represents the will of God. Arrow refers to Ezeulu, the chief priest in this novel and the bow refers to God Ulu, who is the deity for six villages. The chief priest Ezeulu names the day for the feast of the Pumpkin leaves or for the New Yam feast. If the priest fails to name the day there would be no festival, no planting and reaping. Ezeulu with his large family, lives in a huge compound. His two living wives Matefi and Ugoye cook for him by turns. He rules over in his compound. He regards his eldest son Edogo, a carver, as weak and spineless. His other son Obika, the most handsome young man in Umuaro is given to excessive drinking and often lands in trouble. Ezeulu has sent his third son Oduche to the missionary school in Okperi. He learns the way and wisdom of the white man. His youngest son Nwafo is his favourite, as is Nwafo’s mother Ugoye. Ezeulu aspires Nwafo