In the novel, the author uses much religious content as a significant role in the story. The novel can be interpreted differently depending on the reader. For example, an Evangelical Christian would implement its church ideology and relate every event to be a cause of religion. In contrast, an atheist would correlate the causes and effect of the characters as a fault of their environment and in this case own personality. One of the most crucial parts leading to the climax of the novel is the death of Ikemefuna. Leading up to the death of Ikemefuna, Obierika told Okonkwo “That boy calls you father, do not take a hand in his death”(Achebe 57). Obierika warned Okonkwo about taking part in the action of Ikemefuna's assassination. An Evangelical …show more content…
While Okonkwo was in exile, his friend Obierika would visit him and keep him up to date with important news. In his second year of exile, Obierika brings news to Okonkwo and says” Abame has been wiped out.” Obierika refers to the Abame tribe; the tribe had killed a white man in an “iron horse” because one of their elders had told them that the white man would bring them great misfortune. The tribe members had been massacred in result of killing the white missionary. The Christians would strongly disagree with the actions of the missionaries massacring the tribe as the Christians are pro-life and would prefer zero murders. The atheist, on the other hand, would lead the “an eye for an eye” excuse but in this case, it was an eye for a tribe. The atheist would see it as the way of life. People die from natural causes or get killed, but the Christian would see it as unjust and inhuman like but still hold them in their prayers despite the tribe killing a missionary. Okonkwo is quick to realize the misfortunes are coming his way but proceeds with trying to fight them. In Obierika's second visit he tells Okonkwo about Nwoye's conversion to Christianity. A Christian would see Nwoye's decision as the right path towards a life full of happiness and gratitude. The atheist
After Okonkwo gets banished from the tribe it undergoes a drastic cultural change. Okonkwo does not. Upon his return he discovers that his tribe has been partially converted by the Christian missionaries. He is appalled and rejects the idea.
The protagonist, Okonkwo demonstrates his sympathetic character solely to himself, personally, and infrequently not in the eyes of others. During the plotting of Ilemefuna’s death, Okonkwo was hesitant to make the boy aware of his fate and also hesitant to take part in his death. “‘I cannot understand why you refused to come with us to kill that boy,’ he asked Obierika” Okonkwo was aware that the adopted boy from an opposing tribe thought of Okonkwo, not only as an authority figure and high-ranking tribal member/warrior, but also as a father—his father. Until the death of Ikemefuna, Okonkwo continued to show Ikemefuna kindness due to feeling that “his son’s development was due to Ikemefuna.” (Achebe 3...
... middle of paper ... ... He refused to eat for two days straight and only drank palm wine. This shows that he felt he did something horrific and knew it was wrong, but only because society and culture dictated that he had to kill Ikemefuna.
He was in great conflict with the ideas of the white men and the missionaries. Okonkwo saw that their beliefs had not only changed the daily life of the Ibo, but it also changed the people themselves: “He mourned for the warlike men of Umuofia, who had so unaccountably become soft like women” (Achebe 183). The author uses strong diction to compare the men before and after colonization. This quote also portrays Okonkwo’s opinion towards the cultural collision. He values strength and masculinity immensely because of his fear of appearing weak like his father Unoka. When he describes that the men of Umuofia changed to be soft like women, this shows how much he dishonors the Western ideas and how it has taken over the village. He made an attempt to get rid of the Western influence by urging the tribe to fight like men, but they refuse to. He was determined and still attempted to furthermore encourage the people of Umuofia to revolt against the new culture. He realizes that his attempts to return the village back to the way it was before were futile. He knew that Christianity was tearing his people apart, but knew he was incapable of making change to help his people. Okonkwo then starts to feel hopeless and abandoned by his clan, which causes him to commit suicide by hanging himself: “Obierika… turned suddenly to the District Commissioner and said ferociously: ‘That man was one of the greatest men
With the Christian missionaries are followed by British colonizers. This new political and religious order will upset Okonkwo's social order. He works extremely hard throughout his life to achieve his status and be a better man than his father, Unoka. However, like his father he doesn't completely fit into the community. ...
Okeke has to balance the Igbo and Christian religions because he could get himself in trouble and or other people in trouble. Okeke “interpreted wisely to the spirits and leaders of Umuofia,” (190). Okeke is trying to keep the peace between both sides of the religious argument. He is being ‘wise’ because trying not to start a war between
He saw that the British had the same thinking as the Ibo on how their own culture is correct but all others are wrong. While Obierika was recognizing this his friend, Okonkwo, committed suicide. This was the turning point where Obierika realized that everyone needs to be able to change and this event was definity change. He betrayed some of his traditions and decided that Okonkwo should have a good burial even though it was against their belief to bury someone who committed suicide. “We he has be buried we will then do our duty by him. We shall make sacrifices to cleanse the desecrated land” (Achebe 208).
In the end it is Okonkwo’s inability to recognize change that forces him to commit suicide. It is the white missionaries’ inability to recognize that the Africans did not wish to change which adds to his demise. The missionaries represent the ruthlessness of the white man in Africa. The native Africans were expected to accept the ways of the white culture, for their own benefit, or suffer the consequences. In this light the missionaries can only be seen as brutal, and anything but true Christians, but rather religious zealots who like Okonkwo wish to force their world view upon others.
In Things Fall Apart, Chinua Achebe writes how the arrival of the Christian missionaries in Umuofia intensify Okonkwo's internal conflict between changing as a new person and commit to the new changes by following the missionaries religion (which in the Igbo culture, it’s consider as being weak) vs. going his own way and follow the Igbo religion and be "manly". Okonkwo was a respected and honored man who had a lot of prosperity, but sadly his choice at the end of the book was to commit suicide. His choice had an negative impact on his clan because people look up to Okonkwo as an exemplary to the Igbo clan. Okonkwo find himself unable to adapt to the changing times as the white man comes to live among the Umuofians. As it becomes clear that you need to change to adapt to the changing society or fight for how it was before, Okonkwo realizes that he no longer can compliance the missionaries’ regulations and can’t do nothing about it, realize he can no longer can be able to function within his changing society.
Okonkwo has murdered, beaten, and cast off those he loved throughout his life. He remained stubborn and violent until his last days, and yet through his internal struggle, and sparse, yet endearing loves Okonkwo is still perceived to be morally indefinite. Okonkwo may not be considered by western culture to be a good person, but viewing his life in its entirety, it is almost impossible for one to attach a completely negative label to him. By telling the story of Okonkwo's life, Chinua Achebe, creates a dynamic and morally ambiguous protagonist while addressing the moral issue of Christian evangelism in Africa.
This crime from Okonkwo left him away from his homeland for seven years, and during his escape, his old culture would soon be evolved. This unintentional action also played a domino effect, first moving his family away and having his home destroyed, then having his son, Nwoye turn back on him and become a missionary in Umuofia joining the white culture. Achebe describes how Nwoye declines Okonkwo being his father towards Obierika who is doing favors for the family (144). Hearing this, his father seems to not be harmed and is disappointed in his son. These missionaries began assembling into Umuofia, convincing the clansmen that there is only one God, and He is the creator of everything unlike what the clansmen had believed. They had a god for everything, but they now were being persuaded. Hearing this, Okonkwo is in shock and believes that the only way to solve the issue is to chase the men out of the village some way (Achebe 146). Nwoye is attracted to the new religion but has yet to reveal it to his father for fear of him. When Okonkwo heard the news, he is infuriated with anger. “… sprang to his feet and gripped him by the neck”
...ke one. He has put a knife on the things that held us together and we have fallen apart” (176). Obierika should be the character that the reader sympathizes with instead of Okonkwo; he deals with the injustices caused by the missionaries without the flaws of Okonkwo, emphasizing his innocence.
Ikemefuna was Okonkwo’s “adopted” son. Ikemefuna and a little girl were taken away from their families in a neighboring village after a man from his village killed a man in Umuofia’s wife. Ikemefuna was given to Okonkwo as a peace offering and he fit in quite well with his new family. Okonkwo’s other sons were greatly influenced by Ikemefuna, and Ikemefuna’s relationship with Okonkwo was closer than that with his biological father. After three years of living with Okonkwo, Ikemefuna was told that he was going home. In reality, the oracle had told Okonkwo that Ikemefuna was to be killed. As Ikemefuna was on his journey “home” his innermost thoughts give his opinion
Nwoye grows tired of his father and is called by the Christian faith and converts. Nwoye’s internal struggle with himself between change and tradition ultimately led him to convert against his father’s wishes. Okonkwo is extremely resistant to change, so he does everything in his power to prevent his family from converting; “‘If you turn against me when I am dead I will visit you and break your neck’” (Achebe 105). Okonkwo uses fear to keep his other children from the Igbo culture.
Nwoye’s confusion lead to the clash between him and his father because his clan’s religion taught to punish while Christianity gave forgiveness. From this conflict of knowing what religion to believe, he and his father quarreled because Okonkwo could not understand Nwoey’s “despicable son’s behavior” (Achebe, pg. 132). Separation in this case demonstrates how family support can be demolished, especially because Nwoye “struggled to free himself from the choking grip [Of his father]” (Achebe, pg. 132). Values like unity and support should not be abolished because it is what help people overcome obstacles. Okonkwo and Nwoye were unable to stay in unity and work in order to persevere.