154) by the colonial administrators. This ignorance is brought about not only by the fact that the judges are ignorant of the ways of the people of Umuofia, but also because they are normal human beings and therefore, in the eyes of the clan, not worthy of passing sentence.
As we have seen in the consideration of the legal system of Umuofia, the imposition of colonial rule has caused the fair system of justice to break down. Likewise, when we consider both novels together, we can see something similar regarding education. In Things Fall Apart there is no system of formal education, and children learn by watching their elders. In this way everyone is given the same opportunity and anyone can rise to be a great man, whether it is on account of their physical strength or their great wisdom. In this way everyone stayed with the clan and was educated in the ways of the tribe. However, in No Longer At Ease, education has become elitist and it is only certain people who can continue their studies. We see this with Joseph's predicament:.
Obi and Joseph had been class-mates at the Umuofia C.M.S Central School. But Joseph had not gone on to a secondary school because he was too old and his parents were poor. .
(NLAE, p.12).
We can see how Western education has begun to alienate members of the clan, but it is perhaps the arrival of Christianity which has the most profound effect on the unity of the tribe. Native people of colonised regions were generally regarded as savage heathens by missionaries, but it is evident from Things Fall Apart that complex set of belief were in existence. Much of this was based on superstition but the beliefs were universally held:.
Darkness held a vague terror for these people, even the bravest among them. Children were warned not to whistle at night for fear of evil spirits.
