Arrow of God (1964) is the third novel in Chinua Achebe’s , set chronologically between Things Fall Apart and No Longer at Ease . Set in 1920s Nigeria, it depicts a society in transition as British colonial rule shifts from direct to indirect governance. Plot Summary
Years later, Winterbottom attempts to appoint Ezeulu as a "Warrant Chief" to implement indirect rule. Ezeulu, insulted by the messenger's manner and refusing to serve any master but Ulu, declines the offer and is subsequently imprisoned for 32 days. This detention prevents him from eating the ritual yams that mark each new moon, a prerequisite for announcing the . Upon his release, Ezeulu rigidly adheres to ritual, refusing to call the harvest until the missed moons are accounted for, leading to widespread famine. Desperate villagers eventually turn to the Christian church, which offers a "Christian harvest" in exchange for conversion. The novel ends tragically: Ezeulu’s favorite son, Obika , dies during a ritual run, and Ezeulu, believing himself betrayed by his god, descends into madness. Key Characters Arrow of God Summary - GradeSaver Arrow of God by Chinua Achebe
The story centers on , the Chief Priest of the god Ulu, who serves six federated villages known as Umuaro. The narrative begins with a land dispute between Umuaro and the neighboring village of Okperi. Against Ezeulu's advice, Umuaro goes to war, only for British Captain T.K. Winterbottom to intervene, destroy their guns, and award the land to Okperi based on Ezeulu’s truthful testimony—an act his kinsmen view as a betrayal. Arrow of God (1964) is the third novel
