Change In Chinua Achebe's Things Fall Apart

Change, especially unexpected change, can be a major ordeal for anyone. This challenge is especially true for Okonkwo, who was a ruler of a stable, thriving clan in the novel, “Things Fall Apart” by Chinua Achebe, until he returned to reality after seven years of exile. Upon his return, he found that his clan had adopted a new religion, welcomed foreign missionaries, and reversed many of the traditional aspects of the clan. While Okonkwo was in exile, several events occurred that led to this new way of life. His exile, Ikemefuna 's death, and Nwoye’s conversion contributed to the clan’s adoption of new religions and lifestyles. Okonkwo was unable to comprehend change, much less the unplanned, unapproved change in his own clan. His inability to adapt to these major fundamental changes ultimately led him to take his own life. Although many events led to Okonkwo’s death, one of the first signs of depression and guilt growing inside Okonkwo was after he killed Ikemefuna.
Ikemefuna, a young boy who was sent to live in Umuofia was housed on Okonkwo 's property for 3 years. He began to grow a strong friendship with
Nwoye, Okonkwo 's son. “He was like a elder brother to Nwoye, and from the very first seemed to have kindled a new fire in the younger boy” (pg. 52). Nwoye looked up to Ikemefuna in all aspects of life. Okonkwo was never one …show more content…
Before his exile, he believed all things were falling in place that he could accomplish his ultimate goal of ruling the clan. He was astonished at how fast his dreams were ripped from him because of an unjustifiable mistake. Eventually all of the change and the pain of the new clan and the lifestyles caught up with Okonkwo, and he couldn’t take the pain anymore and committed suicide. Change is a very hard subject to combat but even more so if the change is piled on itself and you are still stuck in the paste struggling to agree with the