Okonkwo's Cultural Collision

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In Chinua Achebe’s book Things Fall Apart the main character, Okonkwo, goes through a cultural collision which involved the Ibo culture and Christians. This causes Okonkwo to slightly change throughout the book. Before the cultural collision, Okonkwo is very easily angered and is always abusing his wives. He is dominated by the fear of failure, weakness, and himself. When Ojiugo goes to get her hair done instead of having his afternoon meal ready, “ [Okonkwo walks] back to his obi to await Ojiugo’s return. And when she [returns] he [beats] her very heavily”. (Achebe 29) Okonkwo is not worried or understanding about other people's needs, he only cares about himself and what he wants done. Okonkwo is staying in Mbanta as he is exiled from …show more content…

Their only way to be released is to agree to a peaceful administration and pay two hundred and fifty bags of cowries. They were soon released but when they got out Okonkwo was not his normal self seeing “Okonkwo [is getting] very little [tonight].” and “The bitterness in his heart [is] now mixed with a kind of childlike excitement.” (Achebe 199) He is hardly even eating the meal that Ezinma prepared for him; he has no appetite and won’t eat much even with Obierika urging him to. The next day he knew Umuofia would not go to war because they have already let too many messengers get away so when a messenger showed up to address the meeting must stop Okonkwo knew what he must do. Without hesitation he quickly pulls out his machete and slices the messengers head off to where it lays beside his lifeless body. He left instantaneity as if he knew what he must do. There is no way to save Umuofia now. Being in exile for seven years is an anchor on his attempts to save the village and religion he loves. Umuofia is where Okonkwo belongs, it gives him his power and identity. He would rather die even if “It is an abomination for a man to take his own life. It is an offense against the Earth, and a man who commits it will not be buried by his clansmen. His body is evil“ (Achebe 207) than watch his home fall apart which is why his only

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