Michael Obi is the protagonist of the story and can be seen as a tragic hero who suffers his downfall and humiliation at the end due to his excessive pride and zeal. Obi is a symbol of all the negative qualities of modern and colonized life. Appointed earlier in his career than expected as headmaster of the Ndume Central School and noted by the British as being a “pivotal teacher” (70), he has been sent, along with his young wife, Nancy, to eradicate old-fashioned or traditional ideas from the village school and schoolchildren. While he is a young man, he is not physically impressive, seen by his wife as being “stoop-shouldered” and looking “frail” and years older than 26 (71). He does possess great physical energy, which is part of his overall enthusiasm for his mission.

Although educated and hard-working, he does not seem to possess what would today be called “social” or “emotional” intelligence. There is no mention of him noticing that his wife is “downcast” at the news that none of the other teachers there are married because he is only interested in how they will help him achieve his goal and further his career.