Things Fall Apart Religion Essay

Things Fall Apart follows the events in the life of the main character, Okonkwo. Additionally, the book follows mini-storylines of other characters, such as Obierika. A family is very large in Ibo society because a man typically has more than one wife and children with each wife. Okonkwo has many children, but his oldest son, Nwoye, was crucial in the development of ideas in the novel. Nwoye did not conform to Okonkwo’s ideals, therefore, Nwoye felt out of place in his family. The missionaries aimed to convert people who were outcasts or out of place in the village, to give them a sense of belonging. When the Christian missionaries came to the Okonkwo’s village of Umuofia, the primary people converting were outcasts. This is explicitly said when the Achebe remarks, “None of his converts was a man whose word was heeded in the assembly of the people” (Achebe 143). The detrimental effects of Christian acculturation on the Ibo people are shown in both Achebe’s novel and Adichie’s story, but however, the contrasts are that Achebe concentrates on the methods used whilst Adichie directs attention to the lasting

Chinua Achebe in his novel, Things Fall Apart, writes in a way that Erich Auerbach would describe as biblical style. Biblical style involves suspense, biblical allusions, the ambiguity of purpose, and gaps leading to interpretation. Achebe uses this biblical style to focus on the downfall of Okonkwo, the main character.

Things Fall Apart, by Chinua Achebe, presents the result of colonization of the Ibo people by the European missionaries. The Ibo culture is threatened to change by the European influence. Villagers are divided between resisting a new lifestyle or embracing it for better opportunities in society. The struggle to keep Ibo traditions alive is reflected in Okonkwo and Obierika’s relationship to one another. Okonkwo represents the resistance of change by keeping traditional values in high regard while, Obierika signifies the openness to opportunity by questioning the current Ibo values. The arrival of European missionaries persuades the exchange of traditional Ibo methods, customs, and community for Christianity, resulting in the community to fall apart.

However, in Umofia, and in 21st century America, this is impossible. Religion has become a community event. In Umofia, it is believed that everyone has an influence on the decisions on the spirits, and the actions of one can affect many. If Okonkwo angers the Earth Goddess, and then as a result the crops are poor, he is to blame for the poor season of every farmer. Because of this communal belief that one man’s actions can affect everyone, it is impossible for people to truly be independent in their religion. As long as other people can be hurt by one’s actions, they will be judged for their actions.

Okonkwo's personal and social chi, or karma, is good because he works, provides for his family, and serves his community. Okonkwo is forewarned by one of the elders, Ezeudu. His spiritual chi begins to degenerate with the murder of Ikemfuna (Achebe, 4). "That boy calls you father," he had said. "Bear no hand in his death." (Achebe, 121). This is after offending Ani, the earth goddess, for beating his wife

-After Nwoye is lured into the Christian religion and abandons his culture and family, Okonkwo is ashamed and states, "you have all see the great abomination of your brother. Now he is no longer my son or your brother. I will only have a son who is a man, who will hold his head up among my people" (172). Nwoye's father disowns him only because he chooses a path untraditional to his culture. The serious, frustrated, and unhappy mood that is created in Okonkwo's statement gives the reader an idea of how much the Ibo culture values tradition, choice, and family.

In a society, religion is supposed to unite people that share a common belief and create peace, but in Umuofia and the other villages in Nigeria, it tears everyone and everything apart. In Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe, the Igbo religion was dominant in Umuofia prior to the Christian missionaries arrival. Everyone followed its teachings, despite how they made them feel. The villagers did what the religious figure (the Oracle) told them to, even if that meant killing someone that they loved. As a result of this, some relationships between people were changed. Despite some of the harsh teachings from the Igbo religion, society was united with a universal belief system. However, the day that the first Christian missionary arrived, this would forever be changed. Not only did the new religion transform relationships between people as well as change people individually (just like the Igbo religion did in some cases), but it also brought destruction to Umuofia and its neighboring villages. In Things Fall Apart, Achebe argues that religion has the power to destruct and change relationships, convince people to convert, and to break apart a society.

In his novel Things Fall Apart, Chinua Achebe introduces his readers to the Nigerian village Umuofia and its culture through the protagonist, Okonkwo, a well respected Umuofian leader. Umuofian culture is centered around pleasing and respecting spiritual life. Everything within this culture and religion has a specific order; however, the Umuofian culture ultimately reaches its demise when Evangelists arrive to convert the Umuofians to Christianity. As seen through the events that transpire in this novel, from Nwoye leaving his family to letting the osu have a place in society, religion has the potential to both build and break a society. Specifically, religion has the power to break apart families, introduce new ideas into society, and bring hope into one’s life.

The world is full of cultural collisions. Every day people meet other with different worldviews. This concept of cultural collision, is shown perfectly though Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart. In the story it is the cultural collision, of the introduction of Western Ideas into the ibo society, that causes Achebe’s characters to grow and change. One character in particular is forced to reevaluate his sense of identity because of the cultural collision. This is the character of Okonkwo. The collision challenges Okonkwo’s sense of self, as a religious leader or an Egwugwu, as a leader of his people, and as a man. It is Okonkwo’s response to these challenges, that shapes the meaning of the book of that as your world changes so must you or you

A major aspect of one’s society is religion. Without it, the way people hold themselves accountable would be nonexistent. In addition, many moral standards that exist today are values taken directly from religions such as Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Currently, there exists a feud between people who believe in a god, and of those who do not. Eventually those who believe in a higher power will fight against each other. In “Things Fall Apart”, Chinua Achebe brings to light the differences and similarities of Christianity and Animism in order to demonstrate the effects of religion upon one’s society, which is exemplified by Okonkwo and his people. This is noticed in the lives of the Ibo, the missionaries, and

Mr. Brown is willing to make an effort to understand Igbo’s beliefs. He didn’t try to tell them what they believed in was wrong. Mr. Brown made the people of Umuofia have a feeling of growth again. He told them that “everything was possible.” (Things Fall Apart 178) He didn’t come in trying to tell the people of Umuofia what to do; his first impression was easy going. By him being so generous it earned him a lot of respect from the clan. Ross W. Sanderson argues, that “Professor Patterson stated in his very interesting discussion of the relation of the pleasure and pain economies says: Christ is not the God of war and hate, but the God of peace and love.” (Unapologetic Christianity 34) Being hateful doesn’t get you anywhere in life. The Umuofia people respected Mr. Brown so much that they presented him with a “carved elephant tusk, which was a sign of dignity and rank.” (Things Fall Apart 179) Mr. Brown was very likeable because he took the time out to actually engage with the

When the new religion is brought over by the white men, Okonkwo strongly opposes to it because he felt that its qualities display weakness and would destroy the Ibo culture. He refused to change and stuck to his old ways, but as more and more of his clansmen convert, Okonkwo sees his world start to crumble. “Now he has won our brothers, and our clan can no longer stand as one” (Achebe 176). His clan slowly divides into two clear-cut sides, but the Ibo people didn’t want to fight back the new religion. As a result, Christianity took over everything, from the government, to the judicial system. Feeling powerless, Okonkwo commits his final act of vengeance and kills a messenger, committing suicide soon after. If the Umoufia had tried to fight back Christianity, they wouldn’t have loss so much power this quickly. This reluctance was due to the absence of

In the novel, Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe, various political issues arise throughout the village of Umuofia. These issues separate Mr. Brown’s and Okonkwo’s view on society and the way of life in Umuofia. While Okonkwo depends on animalistic type actions for his life, Mr. Brown utilizes logic and deep reasoning to make decisions for himself.

There are several western African beliefs of spirits.the 4 religious beliefs are impersonal powers, spirit beings, divinities /god, and the supreme being.the impersonal are also referred as mystical, which can be used for both good and evil.These spirits can affect the human lives in either positive or negative ways. Dominant and pervasive are chateristics of impersonal powers. in African beliefs of spirit beings they cateogorized them by non human spirits and spirits of the dead. African culture worshiped more the deities than the high God. They tend to uplift deities as the high God. The spiritual theme plays important roles in the story Things fall apart. In the story there are various quotes and examples that refer to the African belief

In the novel Things Fall Apart, a vast number of topics are covered, but none in such a detailed fashion as the collisions of cultures. In both the communal lifestyles of Okonkwo’s tribe, or in the strict hierarchy of the white men, there is sense. Each holds a deep center of spirituality, be it pagan or Christian, and each adheres to a certain code of rules and traditions far different from the other. Most importantly, however, they both hold on tightly to their incredible stubbornness.