“The world has no end, and what is good among one people is an abomination with others.” (104). The quote from the book Things Fall Apart is an explanation of how a common practice for one culture or one set of people may be against the morals of another. Cultural collisions are therefore the introduction of contradictory practices. There are many characters who had reacted differently to the introduction of the European settlers but Okonkwo seemed to have the most profound reaction.
Okonkwo’s sense of identity was challenged with the introduction of Western ideas into the Ibo culture. Okonkwo started out in the novel as a fierce warrior and respected member of the Egwugwu, but the cultural collision of the British colonists and Ibo people …show more content…
The Narrator expressed that, “The only course open to Okonkwo was to flee from the clan. It was a crime against the earth goddess to kill a clansman, and a man who committed it must flee from the land.”(93) The next example of how western ideas strained Okonkwo identity is when he return to his fatherland. Upon Okonkwo’s return he stated that, “He knew that he had lost his place among the nine masked spirits who administered justice in the clan. He had lost the chance to lead his warlike clan against the new religion, which, he was told, had gained ground. He had lost the years in which he might have taken the highest titles in the …show more content…
It also shows how Okonkwo felt somewhat at fault for allowing his culture to suffocate under the Western rules and ideas.
But most of all it shows how the people of Umuofia succumbed to the new religion which happened to escalate into a full on war in which Okonkwo could not participate thus established regret and also a sense of shame in place for Okonkwo’s sense of identity.
Another reason Okonkwo’s sense of identity was challenged with the introduction of Western ideas was because of differing morals and ideas between Okonkwo and the clan members.
We see evidence from the text when after the, “the six men were handcuffed and led into the guardroom.” Okonkwo later“drew his machete. The messenger crouched to avoid the blow. It was useless. Okonkwo's machete descended twice and the man's head lay beside his uniformed body. He discerned fright in that tumult. He heard voices asking: "Why did he do it?He wiped his machete on the sand and went away.”
Okonkwo’s sense of identity was challenged with the introduction of Western ideas into the Ibo culture. Okonkwo started out in the novel as a fierce warrior and respected member of the Egwugwu, but the cultural collision of the British colonists and Ibo people …show more content…
The Narrator expressed that, “The only course open to Okonkwo was to flee from the clan. It was a crime against the earth goddess to kill a clansman, and a man who committed it must flee from the land.”(93) The next example of how western ideas strained Okonkwo identity is when he return to his fatherland. Upon Okonkwo’s return he stated that, “He knew that he had lost his place among the nine masked spirits who administered justice in the clan. He had lost the chance to lead his warlike clan against the new religion, which, he was told, had gained ground. He had lost the years in which he might have taken the highest titles in the …show more content…
It also shows how Okonkwo felt somewhat at fault for allowing his culture to suffocate under the Western rules and ideas.
But most of all it shows how the people of Umuofia succumbed to the new religion which happened to escalate into a full on war in which Okonkwo could not participate thus established regret and also a sense of shame in place for Okonkwo’s sense of identity.
Another reason Okonkwo’s sense of identity was challenged with the introduction of Western ideas was because of differing morals and ideas between Okonkwo and the clan members.
We see evidence from the text when after the, “the six men were handcuffed and led into the guardroom.” Okonkwo later“drew his machete. The messenger crouched to avoid the blow. It was useless. Okonkwo's machete descended twice and the man's head lay beside his uniformed body. He discerned fright in that tumult. He heard voices asking: "Why did he do it?He wiped his machete on the sand and went away.”