Multicultural literature centers on diverse unknown cultures. Much multicultural-based literature reveals traditions, values, lifestyles and beliefs. Many of these traditional or cultural beliefs conflict with modern beliefs as shown in Chitra Banarjee Divakaruni’s literature, “Mrs. Dutta Writes a Letter” and Chinua Achebe’s “Dead Men’s Path”. These stories show or illustrate the conflicting ideas between old cultural beliefs and modern thinking and whether the possibility of change is inevitable.
It is prudent to note that all cultures have their own practices and traditions that define them. The traditions are passed and learnt continually from generation to generation. It takes a long time to change the norms and traditions as well as the open-mindedness of individuals that subscribe to certain traditions. Change is hard to be achieved for traditions practiced for many years. The elderly, especially, are resistant to such attempts as they have very much accustomed in their ways. This is well illustrated in all the two stories. In Chinua Achebe’s “Dead Men’s Path” it is Obi, the young head teacher who aspires to advance and do away with the path which runs through his school as he sees no need for it. Obi deems the school’s presence as more essential than the old traditions. Focusing on the next story, “Mrs. Dutta Writes a Letter”, the presumably old mother, moves to America from India with her son’s family that is resistant to the modern westernized lifestyle.
“Dead Men’s Path” by Chinua Achebe is based in the 1940’s where Michael Obi a newly appointed head teacher rubs with the local African traditions the wrong way. In the Ndume Central School, which Obi heads, a pathway is present that enjoins the world of the dead and the living. The dead depart and the new children come in via this path. A conflict ensues between Obi and the traditional priests who fail to convince him of the divine value of the path. The two are stuck in their ways. The priest is completely set in his traditional ways while Obi is also firmly stuck in his modernized that deems no reason in the outdated beliefs.
It is evident that the modern ideas, traditional beliefs and change are the correlated themes throughout these two stories. It is not easy for a culture to evolve its way of thinking in a short period. Adaptations or changes in the traditions take time to be integrated into life. Many individuals in the society are not open to change due to fear and take time to comprehend its need. . Humanity must embrace change in order to grow and avoid repeat of retrogressive mistakes.
In conclusion, the stories that have been dwelled on illustrate the ultimate conflict and struggle between modern ideas and traditional beliefs. In Chinua Achebe’s “Dead Men’s Path”, Obi embodies a westernized way of thinking while the priest stands for the old traditional Nigerian practices. In “Mrs. Dutta Writes a Letter”, the main character, Mrs. Dutta believes in the traditional Indian household that believes a woman should be a homemaker and not working. Her daughter-in-law leads an American way of life and prefers an equally divided household. Each woman, Mrs. Dutta and her daughter-in-law, try to accommodate each other’s perceptions but eventually realize it is all futile. Every culture has its own traditional beliefs and values which are essential to pass on. It is, however, equally prudent to accept and embrace change and usher in new beliefs and ways of living to ensure one’s life is enhanced.
References
Bozzini, G. R., & Leenerts, C. A. (2001). Literature without borders: International literature in English for student writers. Upper Saddle River, N.J: Prentice Hall.
Holt, R. (2007). The Holt reader [to accompany] Elements of literature, World literature. Princeton, N.J: Recording for the Blind & Dyslexic.
