A Man of the People Literary Elements

Satire

An unnamed African country in the post-colonial 1960s.

The narrator of the story is Odili Samalu. The novel is told from Odili's first-hand perspective.

The tone of the story is impassioned, pensive, and critical. The mood is frustrated and restless.

The protagonist of the story is the narrator, Odili Samalu. The antagonist is Chief M.A. Nanga.

Odili seeks revenge on Chief Nanga by pursuing his fiancee and contesting his cabinet seat.

When Odili's girlfriend, Elsie, visits Chief Nanga's mansion, the Minister seduces her. This prompts the narrator to seek revenge.

Chief Nanga’s interrogation indicates that he has taken an interest in Odili’s girlfriend. Their ensuing discussion about Elsie foreshadows the climactic conflict between these two characters. Another instance of foreshadowing occurs when Odili discusses the danger of political involvement and begins to fear for his own safety. FInally, the chapter’s closing events foreshadow the gravity of the falling actions. Chief Nanga’s attempt to bribe Odili out of the election indicates that the Chief will undertake drastic measures to eliminate his competitors.

Odili's insecurities are consistently understated throughout the novel, though they drive many of his actions.

Chief Nanga's home is described with vivid visual and olfactory imagery. Additionally, the rancid smell of poor sanitation and the impoverished conditions of the country's rural poor are described in intense detail.

Odili's former professor changes his radical politics upon discovering the privileges that accompany mainstream political success. This serves as a parallel to Odili's own political trajectory.

The Minister's Cadillac car is personified as "suave."