Foil Characters In Things Fall Apart

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Each author understands the importance that characters play in the stories themselves. Chinua Achebe uses his many characters to achieve in getting his point across, two of those characters being Mr. Brown and Mr. Smith. Chinua Achebe sets Mr. Brown and Mr. Smith in direct foil of each other for the purpose of showing the two very different ideals of “christianity” the Igbo people encountered. He achieves this end by contrasting their character, their relationship with the clan, and their relationship with the people. Mr. Brown is the first missionary to arrive in Umuofia and the first introduction the villagers have to christianity. He is the example of a New Testament christian. He preached about salvation and taught his followers not to

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