An Experiential Metafunction Analysis of Chinua Achebe’s No Longer at Ease

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to analyze Chinua Achebe’s No Longer at Ease from a systemic functional linguistic perspective, focusing notably on Transitivity or the grammar of experiential meaning. The linguistic data are analyzed on the basis of the mixed research method approach, which combines both qualitative and quantitative findings. The results have revealed that the main experiences in terms of happening, doing, sensing, saying, being or having are essentially ascribed to Obi Okonkwo, Mark, Mr. Green, Clara, Miss Elsie Mark, and Miss Tomlinson. The description of these experiences corresponding processes and their distribution among the main participants have definitely clarified the real causes of the social unrest emphasized by the author. The new systems introduced by Europeans have completely turned African experiences upside down. It is therefore time to redefine and adapt them to this new environment.