Theodore Roosevelt once stated that “Whenever you make a decision, the best thing you can do is the right thing. The worst thing you can do is nothing. Often, illusions of comfort block the mind and affect an individual's ability to clearly see the moral path to take. In the novel The Healers, Ayi Kwei Armah presents readers with a moral dilemma that will unite or destroy the Asante empire. Densu, the protagonist of the whole story, is forced to choose between two worlds. One world may exterminate the Asante empire due to greed and power, while the other world will slowly heal the empire with patience and inspiration. Densu is faced with these two driving forces; Ababio, his evil and manipulative guardian, and his inclination to live simply as a healer. Throughout this novel, Armah emphasizes how traditions, values, and life cannot be afforded or mediated through his constant examples of how greed, fraud, and deception can destroy and divide a community. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essayArmah provides us with a lively tale with a simple yet complex plot about manipulation versus inspiration, imagination versus destruction, and unity versus disunity. Critical changes occurred during this time period due to Britain's colonization of Ghana and regular fighting between the Asante, the Fanti, and the Assen Empire. Armah consistently suggests throughout the story that the destruction of the 19th century African community lies in their failure to be able to recognize the white invading force for what it was; greed and deceit. Densu's guardian, Ababio, is a driving force behind the manipulation and destruction within Asante society. Ababio, who desires material possessions rather than the general well-being of his community, seeks to destroy Densu after he refuses to follow the court's manipulative rule over the Asante empire. Ababio states: “We will be on the side of the whites. That's where the power lies. We chose power because we find impotence disgusting." Densu, who is a young and thoughtful leader of the Asante empire, must choose between two simple paths; fall into his guardian's evil schemes or join a thoughtful group called "The Healers". Preferring the work of the ascetic Healers rather than the manipulative world of the royals, Densu must overcome Ababio and the royals to unify his community. Armah uses Ababio to represent good versus evil throughout the novel. Densu continually chooses to pursue the path of inspiration and healing because they promote the unity of body, mind and society. Armah demonstrates the power of enlightenment through Densu to accentuate the influence of inspiration on manipulation. Armah demonstrates throughout the novel the importance of unity and life within a community by providing countless examples of how disunity and death divided the Asante empire. Although Densu has the opportunity to become the next crowned king-elect, he compassionately chooses to continue his life as a healer. Densu understands the importance of life when he lovingly chooses not to kill the tied bird in the final competition of the festival season games. By choosing not to kill the bird, Densu showed how these games are a representation of the division and disunity within his community due to the games' strong emphasis on individual competition. Due to Densu's actions, Armah shows that unity cannot be achieved using force andmanipulation. Instead, Armah expresses society's need for a reflective community called the Healers. The healers' great goal is to unify not only their community, but black people as a whole. Armah persistently addresses the African community and emphasizes that good things take time. Armah constantly calls on the African community to take action and express their concerns when greed and division arise. Armah provides audiences with the thoughtful community called the Healers to inspire people of African descent to stand up for what is truly important to themselves and within their society: unity and patience. Densu's mentor, Damfo, is the leader of the reflective community who call themselves the Healers. Damfo is a positive driving force for Densu and because of this Densu is able to discern which path is morally right. Damfo explains to Densu that it is possible to see the world and its experiences through understanding rather than greed and deceit. Damfo helps people see, hear and know themselves so that the individual can truly understand and act. Armah continually reminds his audience of the importance of tradition, values and life by giving his audience a character like Damfo, who strives for unity and integrity within his community. Damfo and his community of Healers are against the colonization of Britain because many of the traditions and values that the Asante Empire holds true are constantly being compromised and invaded by new religious beliefs and ideologies. Due to these new religious beliefs and ideologies, Armah believes that the African community is becoming divided and fragmented. Armah argues that the African community is fragmented and segregated because disunity between the healers and the royal family prevailed due to colonization by the British. Armah demonstrates his beliefs by giving examples of how the British are the sole reason for the initial division of Africa. Armah continually demonstrates that Africa's overall recovery towards unity, patience and health will test the limits of time if people continue to allow greed, self-interest and corrupt ideologies to rule Africa that continually promote separation and division. Slavery, which is an idea often related to the cause and beginning of a segregated world, encouraged disrespect for human life. Because of the impact slavery had on the Asante empire, it negatively affected the Asante population by encouraging an environment that glorified death and violence. Ababio, who encouraged the whites to invade and enslave the people of their tribe, states: “If you didn't know before, do so now. Every royal family is also a slave family. The two go together. There are no kings without slaves. There are no slaves without a king.” Armah consistently demonstrates how the lack of respect for human life has a direct correlation with the division of Africa. Because of this division, Armah hopes for a society without kings and slaves. Through the healers, he hopes to inspire and unify Africa once again through a society founded on respect between African peoples. Armah accentuates the gravity of life by using Asamoa Nkwanta, who is part of the royal family, as a special challenge to Damfo. Due to the fragmentation and disunity of his community, Damfo, who believes the royals are corrupt exploiters, is skeptical of his decision to treat Asamoa Nkwanta due to his association with the royal family. Damfo's ability to help Asamoa Nkwanta understand and question society's corrupt practices allows Damfo to move closer to helping achieve the Healers' goals. Damfo explains the objectives of the.
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