The Igbo Society In Chinua Achebe's Things Fall Apart

A small village in Nigeria, devoted to the sacred customs inherited over many years, dramatically revolutionizes as the white men from Europe invade Umuofia. Umuofia consists of a religion called Igbo, that the people in the community dote towards. Okonkwo, a man of leadership in Umuofia, apprehends the strife the white men bear. Hardship after hardship, Okonkwo subsists to the challenging transformation of his village. Chinua Achebe suggests that the missionaries promoting Christianity in his novel, Things Fall Apart, guides the Igbo society by providing refuge to the outcasts and bringing wealth to the village, but also destroys the society by decimating community.

As the missionaries arrive in Umuofia, they convert many osu, outcasts,

to Christianity, giving the outcasts a sense of refuge. Some native citizens of Umuofia do not agree with all of the beliefs taught in the Igbo religion receive the label osu. The osu began to feel refuge when, “ seeing that the new religion welcomed twins and such abominations, thought that it was possible that they would also be received,” (136). The Christian missionaries giving the outcasts a sense of welcoming, guides the Igbo society by allowing citizens to practice a religion with which they agree with. Nwoye, Okonkwo’s son, finds himself also feeling like an outcast. The Christian missionaries make Nwoye feel relieved about his hatred toward his Igbo religion. Achebe describes Nwoye’s first experience with the Christian religion, “ the hymn about brothers who sat in darkness and in fear seemed to answer a vague and persistent question that haunted his young soul- the question of the twins crying in the bush and the question of Ikemefuna who was killed. He felt a relief within as the hymn poured into his parched soul,” (128). Nwoye found refuge in the Christian hymn as it made him no longer afraid to disagree with the rituals of his own religion. By bringing a religion that allows members of the Igbo religion to feel a sense of belonging and safety, the Christian missionaries guide the society into a more welcoming atmosphere.
As well as providing refuge to the outcasts, the Christian missionaries also guide the Igbo society by bringing wealth into the village of Umuofia. The white man entering Umuofia, bring new experiences and customs that the society has never encountered. Achebe describes how the white man not only brings a new religion, “ but he had also built a trading store and for the first time palm oil and kernel became things of great price; and much money flowed into Umuofia,” (153). The arrival of the white man and his trading store gathers an abundance of wealth in Umuofia from the sales of palm oil and kernels. The white man also brings wealth to Umuofia in a way that the society gains value in education and religion. As “ new churches we established in the surrounding villages and a few schools with them. From the very beginning religion and education went hand in hand,” (156). New schools and churches enhance the village and provide wealth to Umuofia because Umuofia is now one of the most developed villages in Nigeria.
While the arrival of the Christian missionaries in Umuofia guides the society by providing refuge and bringing wealth into the village, they also destroy the society by shattering the community.

When the white man enters the village, the Igbo villagers feel threatened. The villagers, gathered around a stream, talk about how the white man despise of the Igbo people, “ they want to ruin us. They will not allow us into the markets,” (140). The Christian missionaries are destroying the society because the Igbo villagers no longer feel welcome in places of everyday activity and interaction. The missionaries also destroy the Igbo society by demolishing family relationships. The disfigured father-son relationship of Okonkwo and Nwoye is an example of how many families are damaged by the Christian missionaries. The Christian religion drives Nwoye to contradict with is own Igbo beliefs and inflict a hatred towards his father, “ he was happy to leave his father. He would return later to his mother and his brother and sisters and convert them to the new faith,” (132). Christianity and the Christian missionaries destroy the society as they construct conflict between family affairs, leaving the society in an environment of complication.

Overall, religion consists of benefits and disadvantages that can affect a village in a positive or negative way. Things Fall Apart, a story about the arrival of a foreign religion, demonstrates this perfectly. Chinua Achebe, author of Things Fall Apart,

proposes that the Christian missionaries in his book both destroy and guide the Igbo society.