Moral Ambiguity In Things Fall Apart

In Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad and Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe, both authors demonstrate a form of moral ambiguity. Each author’s moral ambiguity is slightly different which is understandable do to the two different cultures each author is presented. In the novel Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad, the main character, Marlow, proves himself to be morally ambiguous because he is willing to go on his European expedition to Africa yet he seems to despise the events he sees there in which his actions become examples of noble and ignoble deeds. While Marlow was sailing along the coast he saw, “a man of-war anchored off the coast...shelling the bush...There was a touch of insanity in the proceeding… which was not dissipated by somebody …show more content…
It has been pointed out by readers that moral ambiguity may by the overall theme of the novel in which Chinua Achebe is trying to prove that people are very rarely purely good or evil. The issue of moral ambiguity emerges when Okonkwo discards his father for not respecting and following the qualities he reveals. In the beginning of the novel Achebe explains, “But his whole life was dominated by fear, the fear of failure and of weakness… it was not external but lay deep within himself. It was the fear of himself, lest he should be found to resemble his father” (Achebe 13). Okonkwo’s opinions about tribal order, family members and social status proves that Igbo society sees men only as containing a mass amount of strength. So once again, a corrupted society influencing the character’s actions is revealed among the readers. A little later in the novel Achebe explains that Okonkwo, “Is not the man to stop beating someone half-way through, not even for fear of a goddess” (Achebe 30). Okonkwo believes it is very important to show personal strength in which he isn't even going to let a goddess get in the way of. Throughout the novel, Okonkwo is often presented as a man of greatness, fame, and money; but is also seen as a man who isn't afraid to be violent and negative in order to gain his neighbors respect for his strength and manhood. The novels Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad and Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe both represent two main characters showing moral ambiguity in corrupt societies in which they face important challenges daily. Both the authors are believed to have a theme in which they explain that there is no such thing as being purely good or purely evil, in which both main characters Marlow and Okonkwo are