Things Fall Apart Essay

In the novel, Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe, a cultural clash between Ibo culture and Western culture was assessed through fictional literature. Several characters reacted to this in their unique ways, either by accepting or rejecting European beliefs. However, the character Okonkwo, a proud, strong and well respected warrior in the Igbo Society had a significant reaction to the new culture. When the new, western culture comes to Igbo society, Okonkwo, of Clan Umuofia, responds by using violence as the only choice. This decision carried dire consequences, and lead to Oknonkwo’s death. Okonkwo’s violent reaction included the hatred of Christians, the new religion had challenged everything Okonkwo had believed in. Okonkwo was a strict traditionalist, valuing strength and despising anything he proclaimed as “soft”. The Europeans had promoted “soft ideas”. Prior to Okonkwo’s return from exile, for he had accidently killed a fellow clansman, an insult to his earth god, Europeans had arrived and they began to introduce their religion, Christianity, their culture and their government, while denouncing the traditional Igbo ideas. A church was constructed, a settlement had been created, and European government began to succeed Igbo government. Okonkwo violently questions his son, Nwoye, who Okonkwo saw “among the Christians”. (Achebe,151). Nwoye was “gripped by the neck” when his father, Okonkwo had been “overcome with fury”, he was repetitively asked “where have you been?” Okonkwo then added “Before I kill you” (Achebe, 151). Okonkwo is prevented from killing his son due to his uncle, Uchendu’s, objections, implying Okonkwo is “mad”. Later that day, Okonkwo is still in fury as he “felt the strong desire to take up his machete, go ... ... middle of paper ... ... did not come without consequences, the final punishment for his actions was his clan refusing to go to war and him committing suicide by hanging. A second consequence of his violent reaction was the rift he had created between himself and his family, when he attacked his son, threatening to murder him; he was stopped by his uncle, who implied that Okonkwo had become insane. Perhaps the worst consequence of Okonkwo’s actions was the fact that he not only died by suicide and his clan had forsaken him, he died a disgrace like his father. Okonkwo became a bitter exile and spent his life not trying to become like his disgraceful father, when he returned from exile, he tried to rebuild his lost reputation. Instead, in full irony, he dies with a destroyed reputation and shares his father’s fate as a disgrace to his people. Works Cited Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe