No Longer at Ease Lesson Plan

What effect does the order of events in the first four chapters have on the reader?

Because the Obi's trial and the immediately aftermath begin the novel, we already know that Obi will accept a bribe and that he will be caught. This creates tension, as we wait for certain events to unfold. It also means that his increasing success fills the audience with dread - the higher he climbs, the higher he has to fall. The order of reactions is also significant. We see Obi's reaction first, then Mr. Green, then the UPU, which gives us three distinct opinions of Obi, which are variously discredited or reinforced as the novel progresses.

What role does perception play in Obi's...