Things Fall Apart and Citizen Kane

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Things Fall Apart and Citizen Kane

Okonkwo, the main character of Things Fall Apart, by Chinua Achebe. And

Charles Foster Kane of Orson Welles Citizen Kane, both have value systems that

are incongruous with their cultures. Thus allowing them to be defeated by

society. These are two men with a great need for recognition. Their need for

something that was extinguished long ago. Okonkwos struggle to prove his

greatness in the face of those who knew his father. Charles Foster Kane's void

that must be filled. The relentless pursuit of respect, power. Okonkwo must

conquer the image of weakness inside him and his fear of powerlessness. Both

characters feel that their material possessions can earn them the respect they

"deserve". Charles Foster Kane is in search for something more simple than

respect, he seeks his life. The path that should have been followed was

dramatically altered, and his life took a completely new direction. " I could

have been a great man" he explains, if he only had the chance. The pride of

these men who have no faults in their own minds, but struggle to erase the

faults they know others can find. This essay will convey the value systems of

each character in their culture and the cinematic and literary techniques used

to magnify their presence in the works.

Charles foster Kane was a child that was very fond of his mother, as seen

in the first scene of the young characters life. Charles' father did not seem to

have any attachment to his son. Appearing quite ignorant, we can detect the lack

of a father figure in Charles' life. This first scene is recounted in the

journal of Mr. Thatcher. The man...

... middle of paper ...

...s choked on that silver spoon". The only love he had

he lost. Okonkwo's life deteriorated completely. Whether some aspects were out

of his control, he blames it on his Chi. What must be understood is that your

Chi is you, it is your conscience and your inner self. Okonkwo gave up his

battle because he knew that no one would follow him. Each character paved the

way to their misfortune, and suffered greatly because of their beliefs. In both

works things fall apart.

Works Cited and Consulted

Achebe, Chinua. Things Fall Apart. Portsmouth, New Hampshire: Heinemann

Educational Publishers, 1986.

Citizen Kane. Dir. Orson Welles. Perf. Orson Welles, Agnes Moorehead, Joseph

Cotten, and Everett Sloane. RKO, 1941.

Taiwo, Oladele. Culture and the Nigerian Novel. New York: St. Martin's Press,

1976.

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