The book, “Things Fall Apart”, by Chinua Achebe gets its name from the poem, “The Second Coming”, by W. B. Yeats. These two written works have many things in common. They share a common theme and back it up with several literary elements. However, “The Second Coming” by W.B Yeats isn’t the only poem similar to the book, “Things Fall Apart”, by Chinua Achebe. “Things Fall Apart” is also similar to another poem called “Welcome Change”, by Gina Whitacre. All three of these pieces of literature are similar because they all share the idea that change can tear apart the social structure of a society (especially if resisted against) and is backed up through the literary elements conflict and theme. The poem “The Second Coming”, by W.B Yeats
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One of the themes of this novel is change is inevitable and resisting it will make it even worse. When Okonkwo was exiled from his village for 7 years, Christians moved in during that time, gained many followers, and converted many of the village people. So when Okonkwo returned to his village much of his societal status was lost (He didn’t even receive a warm welcome back from his exile). Okonkwo’s idea of living in society was based on what others think about him and Christianity is the opposite of those beliefs. So Okonkwo resists against all these new Christian orders because he disagrees with their ideas. Okonkwo even kills a Christian as an effort to start a war between them. “In a flash Okonkwo drew his machete. The messenger crouched to avoid the blow. It was useless. Okonkwo’s machete descended twice and the man’s head lay beside his uniformed body.”(39-41) But when the village of Umofia don’t go to war with the church and they let the other messengers escape, Okonkwo had to make the final decision of taking his own life. That’s how the literary element conflict in the novel “Things Fall Apart “ by Chinua Achebe is used to back up the idea that change can tear apart the social structure of a
One of the themes of this novel is change is inevitable and resisting it will make it even worse. When Okonkwo was exiled from his village for 7 years, Christians moved in during that time, gained many followers, and converted many of the village people. So when Okonkwo returned to his village much of his societal status was lost (He didn’t even receive a warm welcome back from his exile). Okonkwo’s idea of living in society was based on what others think about him and Christianity is the opposite of those beliefs. So Okonkwo resists against all these new Christian orders because he disagrees with their ideas. Okonkwo even kills a Christian as an effort to start a war between them. “In a flash Okonkwo drew his machete. The messenger crouched to avoid the blow. It was useless. Okonkwo’s machete descended twice and the man’s head lay beside his uniformed body.”(39-41) But when the village of Umofia don’t go to war with the church and they let the other messengers escape, Okonkwo had to make the final decision of taking his own life. That’s how the literary element conflict in the novel “Things Fall Apart “ by Chinua Achebe is used to back up the idea that change can tear apart the social structure of a