Authority In Things Fall Apart Essay

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The issues of authority vary from place to place. Author Chinua Achebe depicts the entire culture of an Igbo society in Nigeria and explores the challenges faced within that society through the novel Things Fall Apart. The novel, written in third person, tells about the life of Okonkwo, describing the challenges he faces both internally and externally as his actions are continuously controlled by his fear of failure. Throughout the novel, Achebe portrays a type of authority that takes the form of tradition and religion. The author demonstrates the effect change in traditions can have on a society’s foundation. In some cases, tradition is authority. Still, tradition varies depending on the culture.The customs and beliefs found in the Igbo …show more content…

When the priest punishes Okonkwo, it demonstrates that an ideal citizen in his society is one who respects the authority of the gods and obeys their command. Still, it is important to keep in mind that this depends on the people and their willingness to accept authority and their beliefs. It follows that as authority changes so can the notion of an ideal citizen. At key points in the novel, a few characters question the actions of some individuals, mainly those of Okonkwo, that is attributed to the gods. As the novel progresses, the author continues to describe the explosive character of Okonkwo formed by his fear of failure. When Okonkwo discusses with Obierika the death of his adopted son, Obierika question his friend’s rash decision to take part in his own son’s death and in response Okonkwo challenges Obierika’s loyalty to “the authority and the decisions of the Oracle, who said he [Ikemefuna] should die” (66). Okonkwo’s inability to overcome his fear of failure resulted in many drastic errors such as Ikemefuna’s death, but his actions have a deeper effect on his son, Nwoye, who begins to question the traditions he was born into. As a result, leadership is contingent upon the citizens and actions of the rulers

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