In Heart of Darkness, Achebe introduces the contrast between Okonkwo and Nwoye which serves to frame Nwoye’s search for justice. Okonkwo is defined by his fear of becoming like his father, a man perceived by Okonkwo as being weak. This fear of weakness drives Okonkwo’s commitment to militancy, and his desire to be a defender of the tribe and the tribe’s way of life. Thus, …show more content…
Through the act of leaving his tribe and converting to Christianity, Nwoye pushes his nagging fear to its logical solution—he recognizes that he must leave his father’s house. This also marks a change in the tone of the book. Achebe deftly utilizes Nwoye’s departure to once again invoke a sense of moral ambiguity about justice, a feeling that will only intensify as Mr. Brown is replaced by Mr. Smith, and the morality of both the missionaries and villagers is thrown into bitter