Justice can be defined as “the maintenance or administration of what is just by law,” but this does not fully capture the connotation of the term “just.” To fully understand the concept of “just,” one must explore the more ambiguous concepts of culture, religion, and class. In Achebe’s Things Fall Apart, this ambiguity is explored as justice is dissected through the portrayal of conflict between Christian missionary tradition and Tribal legal action. Nwoye’s characterization mirrors this conflict as Nwoye’s personal ideals clash with his family loyalties. Ultimately, this inner struggle inner struggle between Nwoye’s father’s warlike vision and his own interpretation of justice leads Nwoye to question aspects of tribal justice and consider conversion to Christianity. Thus, Nwoye’s ethical struggle drives him to depart from his tribe and convert to Christianity, mirroring the greater religious conflict within the novel. allows Achebe to discuss the influence of religion on the perception of “justice.”
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
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