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Examples Of Individualism In Things Fall Apart

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In America’s society we compete against one another. America is an individualism society in that the individual’s interest comes before the greater good of the community. Throughout your lives I’m sure you were told you should be the best at everything you do. Throughout college when you are gaining work experience and volunteering you are competing against those who will apply to the same jobs after college. America’s culture is built on “rags to riches” idea that if you work hard enough you can be wealthy. In some societies it is looked down upon to be greater or have more than your neighbor. It looked as if you were up to mischief if you had gained more than your neighbors. These societies’ individuals work for the community and not for …show more content…
When she got back home Okonkwo was so angry he beat his wife severely forgetting it was the week of peace. During the week of peace you were not suppose to be harsh to anyone it was a week to be kind to all those around you even if you didn’t like them or they had done something to you. Any disturbance during the week of peace was disrespectful to the ancestors and gods, “we live in peace with fellows to honor our great Goddess of the earth without whose blessing our crops will not grow”(Achebe 32). Even with a single person making a disturbance during the week of peace was fault on the whole village not just that individual. No matter what emotions you have during that week you must not act on them if it is to do harm to someone else, “your wife was at fault, but even if you came into your obi and found her lover on top of her, you would still have committed great evil to beat her”(Achebe 32). Directing back to Davidson’s quote this shows how Okonkwo personal feelings didn’t that he couldn’t take out his anger because it would have affected the whole community in that putting yourself ahead of the community was not good. In Umuofia’s village you needed to respect your ancestors, or it would reflect that you do not care about your community and you’re just looking out for your personal needs or

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