Things Fall Apart

Things Fall Apart, a novel that is, among other things, about the rapidly changing Ibo culture and how colonization forms a new, more modern culture. Obierika is the dear friend of the main character Okonkwo; in the beginning both they both were assumed to be quite similar but as time goes on this is proven wrong as he adapts through the novel. His adaptability lays dormant until he is forced to use it. Before the missionaries arrive Obierika already possesses the ability to change and develop but it is not necessary until the situation changes. Obierika, upon meeting and interacting with the new culture, changes to conform to the new order of things. While Obierika has his identity challenged, the reader comes to understand the essentiality

It is safe to assume that Obierika is among the people who witnessed the messenger’s death and let the other white men go. For the third time in the novel Obierika has proven himself a thoughtful man, someone who evaluates the situation, who can see the consequences, often predicting them. “’No,’ said Obierika, casting his eyes over the crowd. ‘Yes, there he is, under the silk-cotton tree. Are you afraid he would convince us not to fight?” (Achebe 166). Pages later Okonkwo then realizes the truth; “He Knew Umofia would not go to war,” (Achebe 168). Obierika’s identity is challenged by the dichotomy of ideals and reality, as he grew up with old Ibo culture, but he had always seen flaws that came with those ideas. However, Obierika also is a critical thinker who registers the problems with Christian ideals. With his critical thinking Obierika is able to not only maintain his morals but also survive this culture

Unlike his counterpart Obierika is thoughtful and takes time to question his culture, “Obierika was a man who thought about things. When the will of the goddess had been done, he sat down in his obi and mourned his friend's calamity. Why should man suffer so grievously for an offense he had committed inadvertently? He remembered his wife's twin children, whom he had thrown away. What crime had they committed?” (Achebe 106). Obierika understands that while the white people’s views are strange, change is inevitable. Obierika is the version of Okonkwo that will “succeed.” As he is able to develop as a person and show how he feels, when something tragic happens. One such example is, “Obierika, who had been gazing steadily at his friend’s dangling body, turned suddenly to the District Commissioner and said ferociously: ‘That man was one of the greatest men in Umuofia. You drove him to kill himself; and now he will be buried like a dog…’ He could not say any more. His voice trembled and choked his words,” (Achebe 170). As we can see he is extremely upset at the loss of someone he cares about. His emotional reaction, of sadness not anger and with out violence, once again emphasizes how the sudden changes have damaged