Commissioner And Okonkwo In Chinua Achebe's Things Fall Apart

The Palestine-Israel conflict showcases two groups of people fighting for land they both believe rightfully belongs to themselves. Similarly, in Chinua Achebe’s novel, Things Fall Apart, the District Commissioner and Okonkwo are enemies who also have many similarities. In the beginning of the book, we mainly focus on Okonkwo, a strong warrior and father. The novel then reveals that white men are beginning to show up in Africa. The Commissioner leads the westerners and begins to spread Christianity to the natives. Because of their differences in religion and tradition, the Commissioner and Okonkwo become enemies. Although the Commissioner and Okonkwo consider each other enemies, they are more alike than they are different. Both the Commissioner and Okonkwo are rigid in their beliefs. the Commissioner’s opinions about the Igbo people in the end of the book when he discusses the book he is planning on writing. He says that he will in include a small section on Okonkwo, but concludes with the choosing of his title; “He had already chosen the title of the book, after much thought: The

While he administers justice in the same way, he fails to give them a fair trial as he believes they don’t deserve one. Sure Okonkwo makes an exception for exceptional women like Eczema, however, the Commissioner also makes an exception for natives who convert to christianity. In addition they have equal views of the weak and feel those who can’t stand up for themselves are not worthy of respect, so their methods of measuring someone’s worth is equal. Both the Commissioner and Okonkwo exemplify similar traits in how they treat those they feel aren’t deserving of their respect. For Okonkwo, those who resemble his father are treated as though they aren’t men, and for the Commissioner the natives are treated as though they are less