THE SACRIFICIAL EGG

Chinua Achebe
CHINUA ACHEBE
 known as Albert Chinualumogu Achebe
 a Nigerian novelist, poet, essayist, professor
and critic
 studied English, History and Theology at the
University of Ibadan
 awarded with the Margaret Wrong Prize,
the New Statesman Jock Campbell Prize and
the Commonwealth Poetry Prize
CHINUA ACHEBE

 Achebe writes his novels in English and has

defended the use of English, a language of
colonizers, in African literature.
 Achebe's novels focus on the traditions of Igbo
society, the effect of Christian influences, and
the clash of values during and after the
colonial era.
ACHEBE’S WORKS
Novels Short Stories
 Things Fall Apart  Marriage Is A Private
(1958) Affair (1952)
 No Longer at Ease  Dead Men’s Patch
(1960) (1953)
 Arrow of God (1964)  The Sacrificial Egg
 A Man of the People and the other (1953)
(1966)  Civil Peace (1971)
 Anthills of the
Savannah (1987)
THEME & SUMMARY

 The story is about the cultural conflict that

opposed the African and Western Communities
 The main character of the story Julius Obi is
ironic about the beliefs of other residents of
the village. He works as a clerk and thus
education placed him above such superstitious
stuff. He is going to marry a girl named Janet
who lives in the village with her mother (Ma).
VIEW POINTS
The traditional function of the market in Africa is
used as the setting for the Nkwo Day or the giving
of offerings to the deity and for the economic
function, as we all know that market is a place for
business matter (trade and money).
 Kitikpa is an evil deity or god of smallpox.
Because of their own traditions and beliefs, people
tend to follow their culture in healing process
instead of using or following the modern
medication.
VIEW POINTS
 Obi is afraid when he hears the sound of the gong
because it shows how suddenly Obi, although
westernized, finds himself face to face with the
culture he had decided to put aside. Therefore he
realized how to respect their culture.
 The egg is used to call the sacrificial egg because
it is a form of offering to the deity. Obi is aware of
this rite, but because he was being educated, he
set aside this belief.
CONCLUSION
 Achebe influenced the reader’s perception on the
cultural conflicts that occurs between different
cultures with the perception that the egg is the
protector of a life.
 Julius has tried to run away from his traditional
beliefs, but eventually returned back to them.
 In general, this story indicates how people can
forget their origin, their cultures, and traditions.
Thus, the conflicts that is held by beliefs between
various generations is presented and given light to
situations such as in this story Sacrificial Egg.