Things Fall Apart Literary Analysis

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In the novel Things Fall Apart, Chinua Achebe explores the juxtaposition of an Ibo tribe’s culture with Western civilization, more specifically Christian missionaries. Okonkwo is a strong minded and willed leader. He is famous throughout the villages for his abilities to fight and has gained respect from a vast majority of the tribes. Also known for being short tempered, Okonkwo is not the best person to approach. Western civilization was introduced to the Ibo people through missionaries at first. Okonkwo’s experience with the missionaries was never pleasant. The collision of cultures, challenges Okonkwo’s identity due to the fact that he is incapable of morphing his character and manner of acting; Okonkwo’s actions cause fatal repercussions. As a strong leader of Umuofia, Okonkwo possess a lack of humility and a tremendous ego. His life goals are simple, to one day have all of the titles and be one of the tribe elders. “Age was respected among his people, but achievement was revered” (Achebe 5). Okonkwo knew how to cultivate his life in order to become successful and have little...

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