Vultures - Chinua Achebe
Vultures
Chinua Achebe
In the greyness
and drizzle of one despondent
dawn unstirred by harbingers
of sunbreak a vulture
perching high on broken
bones of a dead tree
nestled close to his
mate his smooth
bashed-in head, a pebble
on a stem rooted in
a dump of gross
feathers, inclined affectionately
to hers. Yesterday they picked
the eyes of a swollen
corpse in a water-logged
trench and ate the
things in its bowel. Full
gorged they chose their roost
keeping the hollowed remnant
in easy range of cold
telescopic eyes...
Strange
indeed how love in other
ways so particular
will pick a corner
in that charnel-house
tidy it and coil up there, perhaps
even fall asleep - her face
turned to the wall!
...Thus the Commandant at Belsen
Camp going home for
the day with fumes of
human roast clinging
rebelliously to his hairy
nostrils will stop
at the wayside sweet-shop
and pick up a chocolate
for his tender offspring
waiting at home for Daddy's
return...
Praise bounteous
providence if you will
that grants even an ogre
a tiny glow-worm
tenderness encapsulated
in icy caverns of a cruel
heart or else despair
for in the very germ
of that kindred love is
lodged the perpetuity
of evil.
Question
1. What is the connection between the Nazis and Vultures? Illustrate your answer with the help of Chinua Achebe’s Vulture.
Ans.
Introduction
Chinua Achebe’s poem “Vultures” is a powerful reflection on the strange coexistence of love and cruelty in the human world. Written in the context of the atrocities of the Second World War, the poem draws a shocking comparison between vultures—traditionally seen as symbols of death—and the Nazis, especially figures like Adolf Hitler. Achebe does not simply condemn evil; instead, he explores the disturbing idea that even the most brutal individuals are capable of tenderness. Through the symbolic image of vultures and the historical reference to Nazi officers at the concentration camps of Buchenwald, Achebe highlights the complex and contradictory nature of human morality.
The connection between the Nazis and vultures lies in their association with death and destruction. However, Achebe complicates this comparison by showing that both vultures and Nazis are capable of acts of affection. This duality becomes the central theme of the poem.
1. Vultures as Symbols of Death and Evil
Vultures are commonly associated with death, decay, and ugliness. They feed on dead bodies and are often seen as cruel and frightening birds. In literature and mythology, vultures symbolize destruction, greed, and moral corruption. Achebe begins the poem with an image of two vultures perched on a dead tree in a cold, gloomy atmosphere. The setting is dark, suggesting evil and despair.
However, Achebe presents a surprising image: the two vultures show affection toward each other. One vulture gently nuzzles the other. This unexpected tenderness shocks the reader. We expect vultures to be savage, but here they appear almost loving.
Through this image, Achebe introduces his main idea: even creatures associated with death have the capacity for affection. This prepares the reader for the later comparison with the Nazis.
2. The Nazis: Historical Background and Symbol of Ultimate Evil
The poem then moves from the natural world to human history. Achebe refers to a Nazi commandant at Buchenwald concentration camp during the Second World War. Under the leadership of Adolf Hitler, the Nazis were responsible for the Holocaust, where millions of Jews and other minorities were tortured and killed.
Buchenwald was one of the most infamous concentration camps. Prisoners were treated inhumanely, starved, and murdered. The Nazi officers were known for their cruelty and lack of compassion.
In the poem, Achebe describes how a Nazi officer spends his day supervising killings and atrocities. Yet, in the evening, he buys chocolate for his little daughter. This detail is deeply disturbing. How can a man responsible for mass murder also be a loving father?
This shocking contrast forms the heart of the poem.
3. The Central Connection: Shared Duality
The connection between the Nazis and vultures lies in their shared dual nature. Both are associated with death and destruction. Yet both are capable of affection.
(a) Association with Death
Vultures feed on corpses.
Nazis caused the deaths of millions.
Both exist in an atmosphere of horror and decay.
Achebe describes the Nazi officer’s daily involvement in killings just as he describes vultures feeding on dead bodies. The parallel is clear: Nazis, like vultures, live off death.
(b) Unexpected Tenderness
The vultures show love for each other.
The Nazi officer shows love for his daughter.
This tenderness is what makes the poem complex. Achebe is not just comparing evil to evil. He is saying that evil often contains a small element of good—or at least affection.
The poet writes that “love in such times is a luxury.” This line suggests that love exists even in terrible circumstances.
4. Achebe’s Exploration of Human Nature
Achebe uses this comparison to explore a deeper philosophical question: Is evil completely separate from good, or do they exist together in the same being?
The vultures are not purely evil; they care for each other. Similarly, the Nazi officer is not purely monstrous; he cares for his daughter. This does not excuse his crimes. Instead, it makes them more terrifying. If even loving fathers can commit atrocities, then evil is not limited to monsters—it is part of ordinary human beings.
This idea reflects a disturbing truth about humanity:
People can perform horrible acts while still loving their families.
Cruelty and affection can coexist in the same heart.
Achebe suggests that evil is not always obvious. It can hide behind normal, everyday behavior.
5. The Irony and Shock Value
The connection between Nazis and vultures creates strong irony.
Normally, humans consider themselves superior to animals. We think animals are savage, while humans are civilized. But in the poem, the vultures appear more natural and honest in their behavior. They feed on the dead because that is their nature. They do not pretend to be moral.
In contrast, the Nazi officer commits evil acts consciously. He chooses cruelty. Yet he also shows affection at home. This hypocrisy makes human evil more disturbing than animal instinct.
Achebe may be suggesting that human evil is worse than animal behavior because it involves moral choice.
6. The Theme of “Tiny Glow of Humanity”
Toward the end of the poem, Achebe speaks about a “tiny glow-worm tenderness.” This image symbolizes a small light of love in the darkness of evil.
The glow-worm represents hope and humanity. Even in the darkest times, there is a small possibility of goodness.
However, Achebe also suggests that this small glow may help evil survive. The Nazi officer’s love for his daughter does not stop him from committing atrocities. In fact, it allows him to feel human and continue his work without guilt.
Thus, love does not always defeat evil; sometimes it coexists with it.
7. Moral Complexity in the Poem
Achebe does not give a simple moral lesson. Instead, he leaves the reader uncomfortable.
The poem forces us to think about:
How can love and cruelty exist together?
Are people completely good or completely evil?
Is affection enough to make someone human?
The comparison between Nazis and vultures suggests that evil is not an external force. It is inside human nature.
The vultures, though ugly, behave according to instinct. The Nazis, however, choose violence while maintaining personal relationships. This moral contradiction is more horrifying than simple brutality.
8. Broader Interpretation
The poem is not only about the Nazis. It is about all forms of human violence. Achebe may be indirectly commenting on political violence in Africa and other parts of the world.
The Nazi example serves as an extreme case to show how ordinary people can become agents of destruction. The vulture symbol suggests that violence and death are part of the world—but the real problem is human moral failure.
The poem warns readers not to think that evil belongs only to history. It can appear anywhere.
Conclusion
The connection between the Nazis and vultures in Chinua Achebe’s “Vultures” lies in their association with death and destruction, combined with their unexpected capacity for affection. Vultures, though symbols of decay, show tenderness toward each other. Similarly, the Nazi officer, despite committing horrific crimes at Buchenwald under Hitler’s regime, shows love for his daughter.
Through this shocking parallel, Achebe explores the complex and disturbing nature of human morality. He suggests that evil and love are not completely separate; they can exist in the same individual. This duality makes human evil more terrifying than animal instinct.
Ultimately, Achebe’s poem challenges readers to confront the uncomfortable truth that cruelty and tenderness may coexist in the human heart. The comparison between Nazis and vultures is not meant to excuse evil but to reveal its complexity. By illustrating this connection, Achebe presents a profound meditation on the fragile and contradictory nature of humanity.
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