Melissa Cisneros
English Period 5.
June 1, 2018.
Things Fall Apart : Culture collision
The book “Things Fall Apart” by Chinua Achebe the characters Okonkwo, Nwoye,
and Obierika all have different reactions to the missionaries coming to Umuofia. Okonkwo
was a well respected and very successful clansman. He was a great wrestler and had
many wives and children. He was never handed down things by family relatives or
friends, he work very hard to become very successful. His only flaw was controlling his
temper which he thought emotions were not manly and made him women like. Nwoye is
Okonkwo’s oldest son, and is thought of a disappointment by him. Okonkwo views Nwoye
similar to his unsuccessful, women like, weak dad because Nwoye is a sensitive man.
Obierika is Okonkwo’s best friend and also a wealthy, respected man in Umuofia. He also
thinks things out and tries to see things on the bright side instead of using violence as an
answer to solution to problems like Okonkwo does. In the book these missionaries are
visiting villages and are trying to share their beliefs and values to them, they want to
change there whole perspectives that they were taught growing up because in their eyes
there is only one god. These character each had a different view of the missionaries
arriving and a different reaction or answer to them. Nwoye related to their teachings and
wanted to join them. Okonkwo did not like them and just wanted them to leave so he
killed a messenger. Obierika did not like them as well but he did not react with violence,
he chose to ignore them so there would be peace between them.
The first character Okonkwo does not like change so when he sees everything that
has happened while he was exiled he just acted out on his anger. The quote “ Perhaps I
have been away too long,” Okonkwo said, almost to himself.” “But I cannot understand
these things you tell me. What is it that has happened to our people? Why have they lost
the power to fight?” on Page 175 explains how Okonkwo feels about the missionaries. He
feels that his absence in the clan has led them to many unwanted changes. He thinks his
people must fight back if they want these changes made by the missionaries to stop.
Okonkwo felt no one in the clan was doing anything to stop the missionaries so he took
matters in his own hands. The quote “In a flash Okonkwo drew his machete.The
messenger crouched to avoid the blow. It was useless. Okonkwo's machete descended
twice and the mans head lay beside his uniformed body.” on Page 204 describes how he
deals with issues. His temper got the best of him as it usually did and he killed the
messenger. Also on Page 158 Okonkwo say “if a man comes into my hut and defecates on
the floor, what do I do? Do I shut my eyes? No! I take a stick and break his head. That is
what a man does. These people are daily pouring filth over us, and okeke says we should
pretend not to see.” Okonkwo made a sound full of disgust. This wa...
