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
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. ...
Okonkwo’s extremism for the Ibo religion is similar to the extremism shown by Enoch for Christianity. Okonkwo always wants to fight for what he thinks is right and doesn’t back down from anyone. Okonkwo saw the messengers approaching, he was “trembling with hate, unable to say a word” (204) because he knew they were there to stop his people and he didn’t want to back down from them. Okonkwo has “[his] own plan of revenge” (200) for the Christians and their new religion. He wants to assert the Ibo
When the missionaries arrive in Umuofia, Okonkwo’s conflict between fighting back and adjust to the changing society becomes even more extreme. Throughout the book, when Okonkwo feels like he has power, he desires more control and leadership over his community. For instance, Achebe writes, “Even in his first year in exile he had begun to plan for his return. The first thing he would do would be to rebuild his compound on a more magnificent scale. He would build a bigger barn than he had had before and he would build huts for two new wives. Then he would show his wealth by initiating his sons into the ozo society. Only the really great man in the clan were able to do this. Okonkwo saw clearly the high esteem in which he would ...
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
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.
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.
... a rat when it was caught by the tail and dashed against the floor”(Achebe, 63). 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. Thus, Okonkwo evokes sympathy within the reader because he is not only a product of society.
Though many may interpret Okonkwo as a tragic hero are drawn to him, Obierika deserves more sympathy from the reader than Okonkwo. Obierika suffers just as Okonkwo does under the thumb of the missionaries, but he lacks the selfish focus that drives most of Okonkwo’s actions. Ultimately, Obierika’s venerability springs from his ability to see the compromise that will allow the Ibo to find a method for adaptation to the inevitable changes brought by the missionaries.
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...
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).
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.
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
Unfortunately, the clash of the cultures that occurs when the white man's missionaries come to Africa in an attempt to convert the tribal members, causes Okonkwo to lash out at the white man and results in his banishment from the tribe. Okonkwo had a bad temper which he often displayed: Okonkwo ruled his household with a heavy hand. His wives, especially the youngest, lived in perpetual fear of his fiery temper, and so did his little children. Perhaps down in his heart Okonkwo was not a cruel man. But his whole life was dominated by fear of failure and of weakness.
As you see, Okonkwo was a deprived man after hearing about the whites expanding their beliefs and customs to Umuofia. Being unable to contain it, he had no choice but to give in. Okonkwo wanted to go to war and fight the invading Europeans, but he soon realized that he was the only one hungry for war. “I shall fight alone if I choose” (Achebe 201). Being the only one seeking for revenge, he had no choice but to behead the head messenger who was trying to end a clan meeting. Letting the other messengers escape, Okonkwo’s visual was the truth. “He knew that Umuofia would not go to war” (Achebe 205). Everything that he stood for was now distant. His once powerful and running clan was now weak and resistant to fight off enemies. What was the point to live when everything else had failed him and he could do nothing to resolve it? He struggled with the changes occurring in the tribe. He was known as a very strong and honorable tribesman, but when the whites arrived promoting Christianity and other tribe members began to change as a result, even his own son, he could not bear the change. While viewing the others as weak, like his father, he tries to remain strong against change however he is the only one. Killing the messenger was the last attempt to try and save the tribe from the influence of the white man. Seeing the others not join in his action, he loses hope and in desperation ends his life
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.