Things Fall Apart Research Paper

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The Colonization in Things Fall Apart Chinua Achebe’s African novel called Things Fall Apart, explores the colonization of an African tribe. The story takes place in Umuofia an Ibo village located in Nigeria where Okonkwo lives including his family, friends, and other members of the tribe. Okonkwo had started out rough in life because of his father, but became a wealthy and successful farmer who just never wanted his children to turn out like the lazy man his father was. Although Okonkwo didn’t always show his feelings towards most things he really did care and in the end this just wasn’t enough to save his clan or himself from the power that the white men had over the clan. As a consequence of the natives actions things really did fall …show more content…

As more land was colonized in Africa the culture the natives have held onto for so long were taken from them unless they didn't conver, such as Okonkwo. The natives called the converts “An osu could not attend an assembly of the free-born, and they, in turn, could not shelter under his roof. He could not take any of the four titles of the clan, and when he died he was buried by his kind in the Evil Forest. How could such a man be a follower of Christ?” (Achebe 156). In the eyes of a colonist they didn't understand that they had lived in their own ways with their own gods for so long that they couldn't just force something like a new religion on them. Most didn't want to convert because they preferred their religion and they saw Christianity as evil that went against anything they had learned not to do in their own religion. “How do you think we can fight when our own brothers have turned against us? The white man is very clever. He came quietly and peaceably with his religion. We were amused at his foolishness and allowed him to stay.” (Achebe ). Of course those who stayed on Okonkwo’s side wanted to take action, but they had lost so many people due to the white man. As much as they wanted to they couldn't fight because even though they wanted to the white man had been to clever and took many of their own brothers leaving them at a loss. On the other hand the Christians thought they could come in and change things for the

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