In Achebe’s work, Things Fall Apart, the reader learns about the effects of 2 cultures mixing through a third person narration mainly focusing on Okonkwo, a former reputable member within Umuofia. Okonkwo is shown as a character with a tragic flaw within this novel from his poor decisions which eventually lead to his end. Controlled by his fear of showing weakness, Okonkwo earns a reputation as a successful and wealthy man within his tribe. Within Umuofia, most of the tribes people were oblivious to such things as science and cultural diffusion. As society began to adapt with the appearance of white missionaries, Okonkwo remains stubborn to the thought of change within his tribe and eventually his own conflicting ideals led to his suicide.
…show more content…
For example, Okonkwo states “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. Now he has won our brothers, and our clan can no longer act like one. He has a put a knife on the things that held us together and we have fallen apart” (176). Achebe describes Okonkwo’s opinion of the white men as clever enough to fool them, however Achebe shows how Okonkwo still believes the new culture brought by the white men allowed for his “brothers and sisters” to be led astray. Through point of view, Achebe shows the perspective of Okonkwo, who believes that an “abominable religion has settled” upon the clan. Achebe, with third person narration, further conveys that Okonkwo was not able to understand why the people of his clan had changed into the new culture. Further adding to Okonkwo’s predicament with more conflicting thoughts about the new change brought by the white men. Achebe then shows that instead of Okonkwo trying to understand the new changes, he went directly against it through murdering a messenger (181) and attempting to start a revolution against the white men (197). Achebe then concludes the story, with third person point of view of a guard, to show Okonkwo’s last resisting attempt against the new culture through suicide. Thus proving once again that Okonkwo’s self conflicting beliefs from not adapting to the new had led him to self
For example, Okonkwo states “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. Now he has won our brothers, and our clan can no longer act like one. He has a put a knife on the things that held us together and we have fallen apart” (176). Achebe describes Okonkwo’s opinion of the white men as clever enough to fool them, however Achebe shows how Okonkwo still believes the new culture brought by the white men allowed for his “brothers and sisters” to be led astray. Through point of view, Achebe shows the perspective of Okonkwo, who believes that an “abominable religion has settled” upon the clan. Achebe, with third person narration, further conveys that Okonkwo was not able to understand why the people of his clan had changed into the new culture. Further adding to Okonkwo’s predicament with more conflicting thoughts about the new change brought by the white men. Achebe then shows that instead of Okonkwo trying to understand the new changes, he went directly against it through murdering a messenger (181) and attempting to start a revolution against the white men (197). Achebe then concludes the story, with third person point of view of a guard, to show Okonkwo’s last resisting attempt against the new culture through suicide. Thus proving once again that Okonkwo’s self conflicting beliefs from not adapting to the new had led him to self