Blending Values to Create Identity in “Chike’s School Days” and “The Deep River”

“Chike’s School Days” written by Chinua Achebe and “The Deep River” by Bessie Head focus on the theme that blending traditional and modern values can be helpful in creating an individual’s identity. Chike grows up in a family that blends the traditional values of the Igbo tribe he lives in with the Christian values of his parents. The story shares:

"Like his sisters Chike was brought up ‘in the ways of the white man,’ which meant the opposite of traditional."

This quote implies that Chike did not grow up influenced by the schooling, class system, and culture of his tribe, but this isn't exactly true because he adheres to both values. The influence of his tribe allows him to find his own identity later in the story through experiencing art and language, both of his tribe and of the English. He finds happiness even in the meaninglessness of words and songs that he does not understand, shaping his personality. One journal article written by Richard Pruitt states that the Igbo of Southeastern Nigeria are “an ongoing example demonstrating the difficult yet determined effort of some to embrace the gospel message within their own unique cultural context." Pruitt claims that the Igbo both embraced Christian values and held onto their heritage and culture, like Chike does in this story.

“The Deep River” also includes a similar idea about identity and individuality. The society in this story is extremely focused on the chief, and the people don't have free will at the beginning. However, as the story moves on, the chief dies, and the people make their own decisions about the actions of the chief’s son. They split into different factions in order to create their own identity. Even so, the end of the story ends by stating:

"And the name Talaote was all they were to retain of their identity as the people of the kingdom of Monemapee."

In the tribe’s intolerance of new values and the separation of their traditional ones, they lost who they were and ultimately only kept a small part of their identity in the future.

Both authors use their works to appreciate and reflect their cultures. Achebe creates an appreciation for his heritage, but also for the English language and new values. Bessie Head used her influence as a writer during Apartheid to reflect the values and dangers of the time.

How does this help you when writing?

Oftentimes, it is important for your characters to develop their own individual identities, but it can also be helpful to allow some of your own bleed through. Achebe and Head used their culture and experiences to influence their writing, and this is important when writing because personal experience makes a story more realistic and impactful to the reader. However, do not let your own experiences, or lack thereof, limit what you write. Writing is about more than just your own experiences because you create characters, worlds, and stories not necessarily possible on this Earth. Write in your own style and be true to yourself because readers will sense insincerity in your writing if you compromise in your writing.