Negative Effects Of Things Fall Apart Colonization

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Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe; A very popular novel, Perhaps the novel that shed truth into colonization. Things Fall Apart was the first book written from an African American’s viewpoint of colonization. The novel is based around the before, during, and after aspect of colonization. The book marked the first opposing viewpoint to the story of colonization by providing insight into the overall negative effects of cultural collision in Nigeria through the character Okonkwo.

Before colonization Okonkwo was an ardent man, who was very pleased with all his attainments in life. In chapter one it states “His whole life was dominated by fear, the fear of failure and weakness”. Okonkwo’s fear laid deep in himself, it was the fear of resembling his father. His father, Unoka took no title and was in substantial debt when he passed. Okonkwo took this fear and used it to his strength, by using it to fuel him to accomplish great things. “They dare not bring less than 30 pots,” said Okonkwo. As Okonkwo said “I shall speak my mind if they do”. Okonkwo took pride is his village's customs. Okonkwo felt so strongly about this festival that he was willing to stand up to people that did not respect …show more content…

In chapter 21 it states “Let us not reason like cowards”. Okonkwo believed that they should go and confront the white men before they gained too much power. He did not wish to waste time debating whether or not it was the right thing to do. As stated in chapter 22 “We should have killed the white man if you listened to me”. Okonkwo knew that they should have killed the white man when they had the chance. Now he fears that the white man has gained power and part of the population. Even with this gained power Okonkwo knew he must take a stand for his village. Okonkwo refused to allow the white man to colonize his village without any resistance. Okonkwo knew he would take a

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