Change in Ikonkwo Achebe´s Things Fall Apart

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, a fierce warrior, remains unchanged in his unrelenting quest to solely sustain the culture of his tribe in the time of religious war in Achebe's book, Things Fall Apart. He endures traumatic experiences of conflict from other tribes, dramatic confrontations from within his own family, and betrayal by his own tribe.

The above passages were taken from the end of chapter three, part one.  After finishing reading this book and then going back through it, I found these passages very ironic in regards to how the story eventually ended.  Okonkwo believed that because he was such a fierce fighter, he could conquer anything life threw at him.  However, it was his fierce, proud, fighting attitude that was his demise in the face of uncontrollable circumstances in the end.  Okonkwo believed that war and brute fighting would fix everything.  He was a proud and stubborn man constantly struggling to improve his standing in the tribal community.  Okonkwo also had intense pride for his tribe and way of life.  He believed it was the right way of life and not to be questioned.  Everyone was supposed to fear war with Umofia due to their fierce warriors and greatness in battle.  When the white men not only did not fear them, but openly threatened the tribal way of life, Okonkwo prepared to handle the situation the only way he knew how.  He wanted to got to war against the new white invaders, chasing them from tribal lands and ending the threat of different ways of life.

In the book Things Fall Apart, Okonkwo comes across as a tough, proud leader of the Umuofia clan. He is well respected and many people look up to him. He has strong beliefs regarding his village and he prioritizes the laws and the well being of the clan ahead of his own feelings. His father had an impact on his life that changed his mind set to feeling that he constantly needs to prove himself and his courage. Once the village is taken over by the white men, he takes his own life because he cannot bear to see his people forced to go against what they believe. He knows that if he were to live, being forced to follow beliefs that he did not agree with, then that would go against all he stands for. Okonkwo’s noble decision to end his life shows his courage and bravery because he will not let anyone change him or bear to see his village fall apart.

Never have I felt as much disappointment at the closing of a story as I have after Okonkwo’s death. The rising anger that swelled up inside of me after seeing how the Ibo culture fell apart has not been satiated. Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart presents us with the very dynamic character of Okonkwo. As the novel progresses from start to finish we see many changes in his attitude and outlook on life. We see him change from a man who tries his best to hide his emotion but we see him slowly slip. We see him degrade from a strong man of action to a man who falls into despair and ultimately takes his own life. Okonkwo is a dynamic and complex character who evolves throughout the story and whose suicide lays the final touches in the destruction

A year after the death of Okonkwo the Igbo’s way of life faces extinction, the rise of Christianity has destroyed the faith in the old gods of the tribe except for a devout few. Obierika, Ezinma, Ekwefi are the last members of the Igbo people dedicated to their Gods, resisting the molestation of their belief by the missionaries. Those devoted few left gathered around Okonkwo’s grave outside of his Obi to mourn for the loss of Okonkwo’s life, their culture, and the loss of Nwoye to the Christian faith. “Ezinma, Ekwefi, we have gathered here to mourn for Okonkwo: Ekwefi’s husband, Ezinma’s father, and my friend. And not only for this great man we mourn but for the loss of our kinsman as well” Obierika said briefly pausing to catch his breath. “Okonkwo was a proud man devoted to the Igbo way of life, he was a man of action whose hot blood would never sit still, a roaring flame who warmed us all with his glow and burned for the Igbo people and their bonds”. “As a young man he threw the cat, and as an elder he was close to the highest title and was prosperous, he had many children to his name, Okonkwo was the model example of an Igbo man”. “An example many of our kinsman turned away from in favor of a new faith. Ezinma and Ekwefi we face the end of our beliefs” Obierika stated. “We must fight then to uphold our culture” Ezinma proclaimed. “We cannot fight anymore” retorted Obierika. “We are the only members left and cannot afford to throw away our lives, why could you possibly want to fight?” “If a child sneaks up and burns me, I sneak up and burn him” That is what my father would’ve done, he would’ve fought using his machete fearlessly chopping at the false God’s children, that’s what a man would do” Ezinma announced. “You are n...

The manner in which we speak may vanish tomorrow but our writing may live on for many, many years. Literature is set out to educate many and has become a helpful tool for mankind without it we wouldn’t know most of the worlds history. Chinua Achebe has provided such in a novel called “Things Fall Apart” in which a series of different opinions are presented to a community that is suddenly challenged to give up their tradition. In light of the situations stated in the book, the reader can profoundly understand its true meaning and its historical significance. George Orwell brings forth a novel including the power of guidance, void, and speech called “Animal Farm.” Orwell uses anthropomorphism to depict communication skills and educating

'"But the times have changed, and we [the clan] must be fully prepared." ' (Achebe 259). The novel takes place in a civilized, African community known as Umuofia, a village in South Africa. It emphasizes the conflict between the village people and the arrival of the missionaries. Before they arrive, the culture of Umuofia is based on the strength and power of the title-holding clansmen, such as the main character Okonkwo. When the missionaries arrive, the values of Umuofia are changed and power is stripped from the elders of the clan and obtained by the Christians. In Chinua Achebe 's novel Things Fall Apart, the author discusses the arrival of the missionaries ultimately producing a negative effect on the villagers, in order to teach the reader that a great and immediate change can cause chaos to society, destroy traditions, and put strain on relationships, ultimately resulting in failure.

The arrival of European religion and government forces a command shift, robbing Okonkwo of his power. As the missionaries gain support and convert tribesman, Okonkwo feels custom and tradition disappearing. ...

Chinua Achebe’s “Things fall apart” is a story about a man named Okonkwo who is successful and physically strong. However, Okonkwo is emotionally unavailable and afraid that he will be seen as weak and that others will compare him to his father. The book’s peak is when Okonkwo does something considered immoral by killing a boy who he had taken in and raised as his own for three years, because he did not want to be seen as weak. Okonkwo is ruled by one obsession and that is to hate everything that his father had loved. Okonkwo’s birthright was fear, fear that he would become like his father. His whole life was dominated by fear, the fear of failure and of weakness. The irony in the story is that Okonkwo’s life ends much like his father’s had ended. Both father and son died in ways that were considered appalling with Unoka dying from swelling and Okonkwo taking his own life. Okonkwo struggles to do everything differently than his father which results in Okonkwo bringing pain to his family, becoming an arrogant person, and ending his life in a way that is considered an abomination to the tribe.