Igbo Culture In Chinua Achebe's Things Fall Apart

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Through Okonkwo, Nwoye, and the European reaction to Igbo culture, Chinua Achebe reveals that there is a great struggle between change and tradition in Things Fall Apart. Okonkwo is a torn man who is unable to change himself when his surroundings do, Nwoye was born into Okonkwo’s house and despises it, and the Europeans see Igbo culture and immediately begin to show that their way is the true way, garnering the support of many Igbo people. In Things Fall Apart, the protagonist Okonkwo represents remaining stubborn in a time of change, which is seen through his actions. He is unable to change his ways even when it is clear that change is necessary. For example, one of his wives cut some leaves of a banana tree in order to wrap some food.
The Europeans come to Igboland with radical ideas about religion and society, concepts that just don’t make sense to the Igbo. They come to Abame and wreck the village, then make jeer at the Igbo culture by mocking their idols as fake gods. To top it all off this , they manage to survive in the Evil Forest of Mbanta, which is a unholy place. further questioning the truth behind the beliefs of the Igbo. During the struggle, some Christians die of illness, proving to the clan faithful that their gods can still fight their own battles. The Europeans have come to gain converts, a system which is very unfamiliar to the Igbo, as different tribes had different gods and everyone accepted this. The Europeans came all the way to tell that Christianity is the only true way and the rest of the religions were paganist and unrefined. Things Fall Apart tells the story of Okonkwo, a great man whose story talks about the struggle of change versus tradition. In the story, he represents static tradition and what happens when it does not adapt to social change. His son, Nwoye, represents the change in society, as he converts to Christianity. Lastly, the struggle between Igbo and European culture is a metaphor for this everlasting struggle between change and tradition. Without adaptation one will not be able to survive and thrive in the ever changing world that we live in

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