Chinua Achebe's Things Fall Apart

The definition of strength is to be able to withstand great force or pressure. In Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart having strength is very essential in getting through these vast conflicts presented. The story travels through the life of Okonkwo and throughout the story many conflicts were presented through father and son, and differing cultures. The cultural collision caused by the western ideas in the Ibo culture took away Okonkwo’s sense of honor and pride, and because of his failure to be strong he was consumed in his weakness, thus exemplifying the devastating effects of colonialism. Okonkwo strived to be strong because his father was so weak. Okonkwo’s father, Unoka, was poor,a coward, and indebted to everyone. Being raised by a man like this caused Okonkwo a great deal of embarrassment as a child. For example when he was playing with a school mate and he told him his father was agabala, women; Man who has taken no title. “Even as a little boy he had resented his father’s failure and weakness, and even now he still

While Okonkwo was in exile Umuofia was undergoing colonialism. Upon his return he believed that he would be welcomed back having the same power that he did when he left. “He was determined that his return should be marked by his people.” (126) However, when he returned he didn’t get recognition as he thought he would. The effects of colonialism on Umuofia had caused major modifications. Umuofia was no longer the strong tribe it was before his exile, they were weak. When Okonkwo tried to get his people to fight against these men but they refused, and some of his men were converts. “How do you think we can fight when our own brothers have turned against us.”(130) When Okonkwo and his men had killed a convert and were imprisoned by the missionaries , he realized he no longer had control nor power. The missionaries had a power over his tribe that he couldn’t