What is the moral of "Dead Men's Path"?

In Chinua Achebe's short story, Michael Obi attempts to modernize the Ndume School and turn it into a European-style learning institution. The energetic and rigid headmaster attempts to reform the traditional school and begins by blocking the villagers' ancestral footpath, which runs through the school's grounds. When the local priest informs Michael Obi of the footpath's traditional and spiritual significance, Obi dismisses the priest's concerns and declares that their beliefs are superstitious. Two days later, a young woman dies giving birth, and the villagers believe it is because the footpath had been blocked. The following morning, Michael Obi awakens to discover that his beautiful flowers have been destroyed and one of the school buildings has been pulled down. That same day, a white Supervisor inspects Michael's school and writes a "nasty report," indicating that a "tribal-war-situation" is developing between the school and the village.

The moral of the story is that one should respect other cultures, customs, and traditions, regardless of personal beliefs or views. Achebe also illustrates that traditional customs and practices should not be suppressed by dominant cultures. Achebe suggests that differing cultures should peacefully coexist, instead of trying to eradicate and replace one another. Through Michael Obi's character, Achebe also implies that sympathy and perspective are more important attributes to have than personal zeal and determination.

The moral, or lesson of this story is about the importance of striking a balance in life, of aiming for moderation - which the main character, Michael Obie, emphatically does not do. The moral of the story is shown in his downfall.

Obie, an idealistic, enthusiastic young headmaster, allows his idealism to run away with him. He has grand visions of making his school a modern, exemplary, progressive institution and he does not have time for anything that he thinks runs counter to his vision. This arrogant attitude leads him into conflict with the villagers whom he regards as backward and superstitious, and he looks down on them instead of properly listening to them and trying to work with them. The priest who comes to see him points out the importance of toleration:

What I always say is: let the hawk perch and let the eagle perch.

In other words, people should allow different ways and customs to exist side by side - which Obie is not prepared to do. He does not want to let the villagers use a path that is sacred to their beliefs, as it cuts across the new school grounds that he has designed. The villagers, rebuffed, take their revenge by destroying the grounds. In the face of this open conflict, Obie's superior dismisses him from his job for his 'misguided zeal' which has led to such problems in the local community.

Obie, then, is punished for his hubris, his 'misguided zeal'. There was nothing wrong with him wanting to improve his school, but he should have tried to co-operate with those whose views differed from his own, instead of forcefully implementing his own ideas over and above everyone else's.  

What are the themes of "Dead Men's Path"?

In telling the story of an educated man who becomes a teacher in a small, rural village, Chinua Achebe explores the overall theme of the multiple ways that tradition conflicts with modernity. Another related theme is the differing values that people place on education, which Achebe calls attention to by making the protagonist, Michael Obi, a teacher. Obi emphasizes the acquisition of knowledge as a means of social advancement, while some villagers see formal education as giving in to the British rulers.

After gaining an education in the British-run schools, Obi marries and takes a post as a teacher. He takes very seriously his mission to help the villagers, whom he regards as backward and hindered by unthinking adherence to the tribal traditions. Far beyond what he teaches in the classroom, his understanding of education encompasses all aspects of society, including the garden at the teacher’s home. Unfortunately, he disregards important elements of local customs that pertain to the proper attitudes toward the ancestors.

The importance of religion is a third major theme. In addition to conveying faith in the gods, religion is closely connected with adhering to tradition because it represents loyalty to one’s family. The theme of religion is closely tied to the villagers’ everyday behavior, not only special occasions designated for worship. Ani, the local priest, tries to communicate to Obi the importance of adhering to the traditional ways—literally as well as conceptually following a path. Ani understands that the villagers are not backward but need their religious practices to help them reach toward the future, as the path links the deceased ancestors to the unborn children.

What is the most important theme in "Dead Men's Path"?

The main theme in Dead Men's Path, the path down which the newly dead depart, the long dead visit and newly born babies arrive, is the clash between the Christian religion and traditional African religions and cultural ways. The priest epitomizes the traditional African ways in Obi's village when he says: "What I always say is: let the hawk perch and let the eagle perch." The tradition is to embrace paradoxes and dichotomies (the hawks and eagles) and give each due respect. Christianity has an inherent insistence on absolutism and singularity and thus does not embrace the duality that is apparent in Obi's village and symbolized by the path: it is the road of both the dead and the newly born. The traditional ways establish balance, Christianity coming head-to-head with tribal ways presents extremism and absolutism.

In "Dead Men's Path," what is the moral?

A moral is a lesson that can be taken from a piece of literature.  In the case of this story, the clear lesson is that BALANCE is of the utmost importance.  Mr. Obi, the headmaster of the school, had grand plans for his school; however, he insulted the villagers by cutting off their path, which was of great significance to them, as it was said to link the living to the dead.  Obi disrespected their opinions, dismissing them flippantly.  As a result, Obi's flower gardens and hedges and one building were destroyed by the villagers as revenge for insulting them AND their dead ancestors.  eNotes remarks that:

Ironically, the same energy and enthusiasm that raise Obi to the height of his career are also responsible for his stoop-shoulderedness and frailty, his premature aging, and his eventual tragic fall. His white supervisor's negative report on the “tribal-war situation developing between the school and the village” exposes the superficiality of Obi's idealism. The once acclaimed “pivotal teacher” is then laid low by his own “misguided zeal.” (eNotes)

Obi should have realized that the improvements to the school and the ancient path could have co-existed.  It did not have to be one or the other.