Beaten opens with a strong metaphor “life is mean”. Indeed, life is quite unfair to the protagonist, a man who struggles to survive…
The opening points at what is coming without telling how it would end.
“Like ice-cold water on the back” follows the first line shortly after, and the reader naturally braces for turbulence. The author brings an intensity to the book from the jump. The opening chapter tells of the protagonist’s disappointment in his choices. Though the reader does not know who he was at the beginning, one could tell he was struggling psychologically and physically.
By the second chapter, the reader has come to gain insight into what the protagonist means by him making bad choices. The job offer he declines, and believing and taking life-impacting decisions on mere promises causes him time. This of course has a link to a lack of mentorship which he decries in the first chapter. Despite facing economic challenges, pride was palpable in the character of the protagonist, who cuts a perfect picture of the lived experiences of young graduates and youths, who are promised success and wealth after education or training. The protagonist, Acho, who is finally named comes into a quicker understanding, compared to other youths, that reality is far different.
Acho’s confidence in his ability to have the life he wants was strong, despite his background, but one failure after another, teaches him that his two plus two only equals four in math, but not real life.
The third and subsequent chapters feature a number of literary devices like antithetical juxtaposition to present a stark contrast in the phrase “turn from delight to a nightmare” when he describes how his father brings salad home, and the day it causes a fight with his mother.
Despite the fact that many of the accounts in Beaten are heartbreaking to experience, many parts carry tones of such grand drama that is funny. There is dramatic irony, as well as foreshadowing, where the writer traces the characteristic wrong decision-making steps of the narrator. Many parts are largely funny if a reader looks beneath the lines and pain.
The use of metaphors are in abundance, often stressing the psychological state of the narrator over what he considers one bad choice after another, which he only realizes just after the fact. Hyperbole can also be seen in use. In some chapters you feel some flash of anger at the protagonist, Acho, like when he turns down a “promotion” at his media job, for a potential Airline job, from which he is sacked six months later.
The protagonist reflects on his journey since becoming independent. He looks back often, because his journey is a culmination of mistakes, wrong choices and regret. Acho’s reach back into the past, to reconnect with school friends is a mistake he regrets considering his social and employment status.
A particularly striking metaphor in Beaten is line 1, page 67, “But nature, being what she is, problem is also it’s child…”, so in the journey towards making meaning of his life, Acho makes a change, moving out of his friend Albert’s house, yet, rather than seeing it as a step forward despite the hardship, he calls it “another phase in my life as a sufferer”.
The struggles to survive everyday life continues for the protagonist as accommodation affordability, a common feature of everyday life in big cities is his biggest challenge, and this part speaks to the reality of the Nigerian life. He continues to suffer, but tries his hands at other things while still searching for a job. Though he admits having no talent or entrepreneurial gift, he goes ahead, but is unprepared for the struggles of business. He constructs a Snooker board to make some money to keep body and soul together, but then rain comes and damages the board. In the midst of all these challenges, Acho goes ahead to find a wife and marries her, under subtle deception regarding his work in an Airport. Of course, the lie ends when his young wife joins him and begins to face the struggles of living.
The book, Beaten, vividly captures the pain of surviving on mere strength without support, and brilliance without platform. Acho, the protagonist is a brilliant man who does all he needs, including acquiring two Masters degrees, living a life free of crime and filled with humility, but this often than not, is never enough. It seems a hand is behind the scenes working against his success. There is no respite from the buffeting he suffers.
He continues in his pursuit of a better paying job, while suffering disrespect, hunger and shame, and towards the end, he lands a job, the best to ever happen for him, a job with a multinational company, Acho describes the pay as “the difference between a 14-year hunger and the sight of a well laid-out table”. Iheanacho Esinwoko was finally joining the big leagues!
The story though being narrated by Acho, were writings being read by his wife, found stuffed into an envelope in a locker. Acho had clearly fulfilled his earlier dream of writing, he had written the story of his life. Why was his wife reading it now?
Acho died.
At the brink of his success, he loses his life. The writer does not tell us how Acho dies, as of course, the story was told as a first-person narrative.
The book Beaten by Obinna Olewe, is a debut novel that chronicles the struggles of Acho, just like thousands of young and middle-aged men undergo, in surviving everyday life. His words are simple. The book is a very easy read and one ladden with great emotion. The reader gets a good dose of the protagonist’s turmoil while trudging through every failure.
It is recommended for every young man and woman, girl and boy, to read, understand, and learn the lessons.
Reviewed by
Jumoke Falayi Johnson
