Examples Of Collision In Things Fall Apart

In the novel, Things Fall Apart, by Chinua Achebe there is a collision that makes a great impact on the main character, Okonkwo. The collision was a religious one, involving the tribe/clan and the Europeans who took over by introducing a whole new religion. Things fall apart for Okonkwo when he discovers that these people invaded their religious ways and there is nothing he can do to stop them. The cultural collision was a religious one. When the white man arrived, introducing Christianity everyone was not convinced. The clan had always looked up to their own gods. Little by little people were beginning to transition, Okonkwo on the other hand, refused to ever become one of them in hopes that these people will go away and everything will come back to place. Even his own son, Nwoye transitions but he keeps it a secret in

It was already shown that he was an angry person since the beginning considering everything he had done throughout the novel. He even kills the messenger when he finds out that Nwoye had converted religions. He couldn’t have any of it. Okonkwo and other men from the village even came together to destroy and burn one of the churches that were built. He was distressed that these people were taking over what was once a peaceful village that all grown to believe in their one religion. The effect that this religious collision had on Okonkwo was fatal that he chose to hang himself rather than not being in control. Okonkwo’s response contributes to the works as a whole because it gives the title a meaning, Things Fall Apart. His response is also important because it leads up to his downfall in the ending where he chooses to hang himself. It is relevant because throughout the book it shows that Okonkwo is a frustrated yet strong and fierce man. He was angry about this conflict but in the ending it did not show the strong and fierce man that is the entire novel revealed his character to