Achebe's Things Fall Apart

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Recommended: Culture conflict as things fall apart

Culture has been an important piece of humanity. Things Fall Apart, by Chinua Achebe, displays the conflict between Western culture and Igbo culture. Western culture and Igbo culture have many differences. For example, the Western culture accepts many individuals who are abominations in the eyes of the Igbo. Okonkwo’s journey through Things Fall Apart demonstrates the theme of two different cultures clashing.
Okonkwo was a strong and well-respected member of his village. He was a respected leader in Umuofia. For instance, the text states, “Okonkwo was well known throughout the nine villages and even beyond. His fame rested on solid personal achievements. As a young man of eighteen he had brought honor to his village by throwing Amalinze the Cat,” (3). In other words, Okonkwo became famous by wrestling. The evidence highlights how important wrestling was to the Igbo culture. The novel illustrates how being manly connects to the theme. Being manly was only important to Okonkwo’s culture and not to Western ideas. …show more content…

He couldn’t adapt to the changes caused by the missionaries. To illustrate this idea, the text states, “The clan had undergone such profound during his exile that it was barely recognizable,” (150). Basically, the missionaries changed Umuofia by using their ideas and way of life. The author conveys Okonkwo’s response to the missionaries’ presence. He is angry that the missionaries are destroying his way of life. This quote demonstrates how his response connects to the theme. The two culture have tension with each other because the missionaries are gaining more converts. This causes more division in the clan and it angers

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