Theory question 201
Other Set Texts: African ProseLiterature 3, Section A: African Prose. Chinua Achebe: Anthills of the Savannah
Compare and contrast the characters of General Sam and Ikem in the novel.
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Similarities: childhood friends and schoolmates at Lord Byron's College; intelligent, proud, gifted.
Sam: army officer trained at Sandhurst, charming and handsome; becomes Head of State after a coup.
Sam grows vain, insecure and dictatorial (wants to be President for life); orders Ikem's removal and is linked to his death; he is overthrown and killed.
Ikem: poet and editor of the National Gazette; idealistic, outspoken, critical of government; sympathises with the poor.
Ikem is honest and courageous but rash; he is murdered by security agents.
Contrast: Sam represents power and its corruption; Ikem the conscience of the nation.
Give both likenesses and differences.